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KE-DEDICATION 



OLD STATE HOUSE. 




OLD STATE HOUSE. 

WEST END, 1883. 



RE-DEDICATION 



OLD STATE HOUSE 



BOSTON, 



JULY 11, 1882. 



SIXTH EDITION. 




Boston: 

PRINTED l'-V ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL, 
18 9 3. 



r 






* 


.0 





(MTV OF BOSTON. 

In Common Council, March 23, 1893. 
Ordered, That the Superintendent of Printing, under the direction of 
the Committee on Printing, be authorized to have reprinted an edition 
of fifteen hundred copies of the Old State House Memorial, each member 
of the City Council to be furnished with ten copies; the expense thus 
incurred to be charged to the appropriation for Printing Department. 

Passed. Sent up for concurrence. In Board of Aldermen, March 27, 

concurred. The foregoing order was sent to the Mayor March 29, L893, 

and was not returned by him within ten days thereafter. 

A true cop). 

Attest : 

J. M. G U.VIN, 

City Clerk. 



Rockwell aud i chil Printers, Boston. 






CONTENTS. 



Preliminary Note .... 

Proceedings at Re-dedication 

Remarks of Alderman Charles II. Hersey 
Prayer ..... 
Oration ..... 
Remarks of Mayor Samuel A. Green 
Remarks of Hon. Marshall P. Wildei 
Letter from Gov. John D. Long 
Letter from Com. O. C. Badger 



PAGE 

'.I 

17 

IS 

11) 

22 

121 

1-24 

126 

126 



Appendix : — 

A. Papers relative to Town House of 1057 

B. Papers relative to rebuilding in 1711 . 

C. Papers relative to Fire in 1747 .... 
I). Note relative to the Lion and Unicorn 

E. Note relative to Faneuil Hall .... 

F. Report of City Architect 

G. Financial Exhibit ...... 

II. Extracts from the Will of Captain Robert Keayne 
I. Account of the Fire in 17-17 .... 

J. Painter's Bill of 177;] 

K. Belies of the Old House 

E. The Court Bouse, the Jail, and the City Hall . 
M. Prefatory Note by W. II. Whitmore 

Extracts from Dr. G. II. Moore's pamphlet entitled 
taneum Bostoniense "..... 
Index ....... . 



Pr\ 



11". I 
133 
139 
145 
149 
152 
156 
162 
169 
170 
171 
173 
201 

208 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Old State House, Washington-street End 

Old State House. East End, 1882 

Portrait ..... 

Old State House, Interior View-. 1883 

*01d State House in 1791 . 

.'antes Otis ..... 

State-street Massacre . 

; Samuel Adams .... 

*Josiah Quincy, Jr. 

♦John Hancock .... 

♦Thomas Cushing, Speaker, 1771 

►James Bowdoin .... 

Old State House in 1785 

Triumphal Arch at the Reception of Washington in 1789 

Fac-simile of Order of Procession, in Honor of Washington's Visit in 

L789 

"Old State House in 1793 . 

Old State House in 1799 

*01d State House in 1801 . 

Old State House in 1821, by Hales 

State Street and Old State House in 1826 

Old State House, from Peinberton Hill, Salmon' 

Old State House in 1835, 1850, 1880 . 

Old State House in 1830, 1835, 1838 . 

Old State House on Fire in 1832. 

Old State House in 1876, showing Mansard 

Faneuil Hall in ITS!) .... 

Paneuil Hall in 1826 .... 

Architect's Plan, Old State House 

Diagrams from Maps in L800 and 1814 showing ( 

Court House, Court Square, 1851 

Old Court House, School Street, erected ill 1811 
Old Court House, School Street, ahout 1820 
Johnson Hall, School Street 

City Hall, 1856 ' 

Mechanics' Building, 1864 .... 
Plan in 1830, by Isaiah Rogers . 



s View, 1829 



Roof 



, Siyns, etc. 



lourt House 



12 



PAGE 

Frontispiece 
17 



21 

22 
63 

70 
82 
84 
87 
88 
90 
94 
95 
96 

97 
98 
98 
101 
107 
109 
110 
111 
112 
114 
116 
149 
151 
153 
188 
189 

191 
192 
193 
199 
200 
21 15 



From the Memorial History of Boston, by permission. 



PRELIMINARY NOTE. 



PRELIMINARY NOTE. 



The restoration of the Old State House is an event of 
which every Bostonian may well be proud. The history of 
the building is so indissolubly connected with the most 
stirring events in the annals of the city, and of the nation 
ilso, that it is a source of peculiar gratification to know 
that the ancient edifice has been saved from destruction, 
and will be handed down to future generations in a form 
substantially the same as it presented when within its 
venerable walls "the child Independence was born." 

The building narrowly escaped destruction in 1876. In 
that year the leases expired, and an effort was made to re- 
•move it, on the ground that it was an obstruction to the 
extension of Devonshire street. The subject was vigorously 
discussed in both branches of the City Council, and re- 
sulted in a compromise, by which the portico on the east- 
erly end, built in 1830, was removed, and the space that 
it occupied thrown into the street. The building was then 
re-leased for a term of live years. 

Ai the termination of the leases, in 1881, (lie question 
arose as to whether the building should be again leased, 
or whether it should be restored to its original condition 
and preserved for public purposes. 1 The latter view pre- 



'For report of bearings, see < ny Document 71 1>, 1S81 



10 OLD STATE EIOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

vailed, and the result is commemorated in the following 
pages. 

The history of the Old State House is so completely 
related in Mr. Whitmore's oration that any further elabo- 
ration on the subject appears superfluous,; but, inasmuch 
as attempts have been made to throw discredit upon the 
claims of the building to he a genuine relic of revolution- 
ary and pre-revolutionary times, a tew words on that point 
may not he out of place. 

Throughout all the changes that have taken place the 
Old State House has preserved its original form more 
closely than any other of the historic buildings of the 
country. The alterations that have been made from time 
to time were such as did not affect the construction of the 
building to any great extent, and the material in it to-day 
is mostly that which was put in place by the original 
builders. The work of restoration consisted mainly of rc- 
moving the additions that were made when the building 
was lilted up for mercantile uses. The new work placed 
in the building consisted principally of interior finish, such 
as would naturally require renewal in course of time from 
the wear and tear incidental to buildings used for public 

purposes. 

For the purpose of more fully illustrating this fact it 
has been thought desirable to present several reproductions 
of old prints which show the appearance of the building 
at differenl times, and prove that the exterior form of the 
old building has not been materially changed. 

The first view i- that given in Paul Revere's engraving 
of the Boston massacre, made about 1770. This is the 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 11 

earliest view extant, and is particularly interesting from 
the fact that it is the only one which shows the lion and 
unicorn. The view of ITS."), taken from the cover of the 
"Boston Magazine" for July of that year, gives a clearer 
view of the lower story, and shows that the lion and uni- 
corn had been removed since Pan! Revere's -ketch was 
made. The fact that an engraving of the building was 
chosen to embellish the title-page of a popular magazine 
indicates that it was considered of considerable importance 
at that time. This is still further shown by a view of the 
building being placed upon the policies of the Massachu- 
setts Fire Insurance Company, incorporated in 1795, a copy 
of which is herewith given. 

The view of 1801 is an engraving made for the Memo- 
rial History of Boston, from a painting by J. B. Marston, 
in the possession of the Historical Society. The view of 
1S21, from Hales' survey, shows the first extensive altera- 
tion. The steps had been removed and a large window 
substituted for the door under the balcony. 

The view of 1826, from Snow's history, shows that a 
clock had been substituted for a sun-dial. Chimneys also 
appear for the first time. They were probably built when 
the upper portion of the building was leased to the 
Masonic order. The view from Snow's Geography, of 1830, 
shows the alterations made when the building was fitted 
up for municipal purposes. The upper balcony was ex- 
tended across tlje building, and was supported by eight heavy 
columns, arranged in pairs, and resting upon a lower bal- 
cony. This view is the only one that shows the town-pump, 
which is still remembered by many of our older citizens. 



12 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Salmon'- picture of the fire in L832, and the view from 
Bowen's volume of 1838, both show the building un- 
changed. 

The view made by Loring, in 187(3, shows the addition 
of a Mansard roof, and gives a correct idea of the build- 
ing as il appeared when given over completely to business 
purposes. Shortly after this sketch was made the balco- 
nies on the easterly end were removed in order to widen 
the street, and the building then appeared as shown in the 
view made in 1880. 

Turning now to the Washington-street end, the earliest 
view is that of 1789, taken from the "Polyanthus." This 
print shows a temporary balcony, erected for the accom- 
modation of General Washington, when he reviewed the 
procession in honor of his visit to Boston. It shows, also, 
the triumphal arch, which was thrown across Washington 
street. In this connection a copy of the programme of 
the procession is given, slightly reduced in size, from the 
original now in possession of the Public Library. 

The views of 1791 and of 17!)."). both from the "Massa- 
chusetts Magazine," show no alteration in the building. 

The drawing made by Hunt, and lithographed by Pen- 
dleton, in L835, -hows a balcony supported by heavy 
column.-, and corresponds with a view given in the Bewick 
Company's map of same date. 

A lithograph made in 1850 shows that the columns had 
been removed, and a modern store front put in. This 
condition remained substantially unchanged in 1<S80. 

The plan prepared by Isaiah Rogers in 1830, when 
the building was adapted to city uses, explains the theory 
of this reconstruction. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 13 

On examining these views it will be -ecu thai the orig- 
inal lines of the old building have not been altered, and 
that the exterior walls remain intact, except where the 
doors and windows in the lower story were enlarged. 

Comparing the Old State House with other historic build- 
ings, as, tor instance, Independence Hall, in Philadelphia, 
and Faneuil Hall, the former has certainly the strongest 
claim to be regarded as a genuine relic. Etting's history 
of Independence Hall proves that the work of restoring 
that edifice was attended by tar greater difficulties than 
were met with in the Old State House. 

Two views of Faneuil Hall are given. One from the 
"Massachusetts Magazine," showing the building as it ap- 
peared in revolutionary day-: the other, from Snow's his- 
tory, showing it after it was enlarged in 1808, or as it is 
to-day. A white line on the latter engraving indicates the 
outline of the old building, and shows that the historic 
Faneuil Hall was a much smaller building than the present 
one; in fact, but a small portion of the old building re- 
mains: nevertheless, no one questions the title of both In- 
dependence Hall and Faneuil Hall to be venerated as 
genuine relies of historic times. 

It will be noted that the present is the sixth edition of 
this book, the first being printed in 1882, the second in 
1883, the third in 1885, the fourth in 1887, and the fifth in 
1889. The first two editions were substantially alike, but in 
the third five appendices were added, increasing the volume 
from 17'.) pages to 216 pages. The main increas< was in 
Appendix M. being a reprint of an essay by Dr. George 
H. Moore on the history of the building, and Appendix X, 
in which Mr. Whitmore replied to his criticisms. 



14 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

In the fourth edition, Appendix M has been somewhat 
condensed and Appendix N omitted, thereby removing 
the controversial parts of these articles. Appendix F, of 
former editions, which was a history of the City Hall, the 
Court House, and the Jail, was re-written in the light 
of later information, and now constitutes Appendix L. 
This rendered it necessary to alter the numbering of the 
appendices, and to make some slight changes in the 
position of the illustrations. 

The sixth edition is printed from the plates of the fifth 
issue, but two or three additional illustrations are given 
and duly noted in the list on page <>. 

J. L. H. 

City Hall, Boston, June, 1893. 



PROCEEDINGS AT RE-DEDICATION. 




OLD STATE HOUSE. 

EAST END, 1882. 



PROCEEDINGS AT RE-DEDICATION. 



The five years' lease of the Old State House expired July 
1, 1881. In anticipation of that event it was suggested that 
the historic interest of the building was so great that it might 
be desirable to retain the control of, at least, the upper part 
floor of the building for public uses, and to restore the whole 
edifice to the appearance it wore a century ago. The City 
Council, after considerable discussion, voted to appropriate 
the sum of thirty-five thousand dollars for repairs on the 
building, putting the charge, as usual, in the hands of the 
Committee on Public Buildings, of which Alderman William 
Woolley was chairman in 1881 and 1882. 

The work proved greater than was anticipated; but on 
June 29, 1882, the committee was able to announce the sub- 
stantial completion of their labors (see City Doc! 100), and 
to invite the City Council to attend at the formal transfer of 
the building to His Honor the Mayor, on Tuesday, July 11. 
Accordingly, on the forenoon of that day, the following pro- 
ceedings took place, which are now published by order of 
the City Council. 

The ceremonies were held in the East Hall, occupied in 
colonial times by the Governor and Council, afterwards by 
the State Senate, and from 1830 to 1840 by the Board of 
Aldennen. Portraits of the old governors, Winthrop, 



18 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Endicott, Bellingham, and Burnet, were kindly loaned for 
the occasion, by direction of Hon. Robert R. Bishop, Presi- 
dent of the Senate. The Massachusetts Historical Society 
loaned portraits of Governors Belcher, Joseph Dudley, and 
Hutchinson. The Public Library contributed a caricature 
of Governor Gage, and engravings of Governors Pownall 
and Andros also hung upon the walls. 

In the West Hall, formerly occupied by the House of 
Representatives, and later by the Common Council, were 
the superb portraits of Samuel Adams and John Hancock, 
owned by the city, and Stuart's portrait of Josiah Quincy, 
Jr., the patriot. Other interesting pictures and engravings 
adorned the various rooms. The orator of the day delivered 
his address from the Speaker's desk used in the old House 
of Representatives, and now owned by the Massachusetts 
Historical Society. 

Owing to the unavoidable absence of Alderman Woolley, 
chairman of the committee, the assemblage was called to 
order by Alderman Hersey, who spoke as follows : — 

Mr. Mayor, Gentlemen of the City Council, Ladies 
and Gentlemen: — 

You are assembled here to-day to receive the 
report of the committee to whom was assigned the 
duty of renovating and restoring the Old State 
House. The work is completed, of which you have 
the evidence before you, and I am happy to say it 
has been done within the estimates and appropria- 
tion. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 19 

The work of restoration has not been accom- 
plished except by much expenditure of time and 
thought in delving among old documents for evi- 
dences of what the building was in its early days; 
and it presents to-day, both as to its exterior 
and interior, substantially the same appearance that 
it did in those early days of its history when the 
noble men, whose portraits look down upon us here 
walked these streets, and to the gathered citizens 
within these historic walls spoke the patriotic words 
of counsel that incited them to deeds of noble daring 
in defence of national liberty, and made this country 
a free republic. 

It would seem proper that, in dedicating this build- 
ing to purposes akin to those for which it was 
originally designed, we should seek the Divine favor. 
[ therefore will request the Rev. Dr. Rufns Ellis, 
pastor of the First Church, to ask a blessing. It 
would seem appropriate and fitting that he, the pas- 
tor of the church which in its early days was located 
in this immediate vicinity, should thus officiate. You 
will please give your attention while the Rev. Dr. 
Ellis asks a blessing. 



PRAYER BY RUEUS ELLIS, D.D. 

O God of our fathers, our dwelling-place in all 
generations, we thank Thee for our goodly heritage. 



20 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Not without Thee would we come together. Obedi- 
ent to Thy voice do we remember the days of old. 
It is our desire and prayer that by these renewals and 
restorations we may so strengthen the things that 
remain, and so bind together our best and most 
precious hopes, and our dearest memories, that we 
shall grow thereby in all sweet humanities, and our 
city be, indeed, as a city set upon a hill whose light 
cannot be hid, whose light shall shine in praise and 
works that are just and merciful. 

We pray Thee that this ancient house may be for- 
ever a common possession, a common joy, and a 
common pride of all those whose homes and places 
of daily toil are centred about it, and may it be a 
memorial to them that they are citizens of no mean 
city. So may the Lord keep the city; so may its 
walls be salvation and its gates praise ; and so for the 
abundance of righteousness and love within its bor- 
ders, may all th'e walls that are builded by human 
hands be consecrated; and may this be to us at last, 
in the brighter and better and holier days, that city 
of our God, of which it is written, I saw no temple 
therein: and for the light that shines upon all and 
upon the house may there be nothing uncommon or 
unclean. 

We pray this prayer unto Thee in His name who 
bids us render unto Caesar the things which are 
Caesar's, and unto God the things which are God's, 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 21 

and, in the words which He hath taught us, may we 
with one heart and one voice say unto Thee: Our 
Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. 
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it 
is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and 
forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that 
trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; 
but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, 
and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. 
Amen. 

Alderman Hersey. — Ladies and gentlemen, 
perhaps to one member of the city government 
more than all others is due the credit of whatever 
success has attended the restoration of this building. 
I allude to that member whose duty and pleasure it 
will be to address you on this occasion. It gives 
me great pleasure to introduce to you William 
H. Whitmore, member of the Common Council 
from Ward 12. 



ADDRESS OF WILLIAM H. WHITMOKE. 



Fellow-Members of the City Council : — 

We are gathered here to-day to re-dedicate a build- 
ing already hallowed by the patriotic contests of 
previous generations. We are to strengthen a link 
in that chain of our history which connects those who 
resisted the despotism of the Stuarts with those who 
rebelled against the misgovernment of the mother 
country, and again with those who so lately fought 
for the preservation of the unity of the nation. We 
are to remember that we are henceforth the custo- 
dians not only of Faneuil Hall and the Old South, so 
universally known at the present day, but also of 
that older and still more revered spot, which, after a 
temporary neglect and decay, is now to stand pre- 
eminent among all the buildings in the land. 

I will endeavor to set forth, with due citation of 
authorities, the claims of the Old State House to be 
the spot most intimately associated with the history 
of liberty in this Commonwealth, and the right of the 
present building to assume to be, not the representa- 
tive of departed glories, but their actual and existing 
monument, — never obliterated, never changed in any 







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< 

X 
in 
> 

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o 



^>-. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 23 

essential degree, — as fit to-day as it was a century 
ago to be the glorious theatre of immortal events. 
When our forefathers established this town they 
found that Nature had apparently marked this spot 
for a centre of the new settlement. A little projec- 
tion, of which our State street is the ridge, divided 
the coves lying north and south. The land reached 
then as far as Kilby street on the one side, and 
Merchants' Row on the other. On the north the 
Town Dock, now covered by Quincy Market and 
even by streets farther inland, reached to the slopes 
of Copp's Hill. On the south a cove, occupying 
Liberty square and its vicinity, severed Fort Hill 
from approach, except on the line of Franklin street. 
Directly in the range of this point the lofty height 
of Beacon Hill towered above the narrow plain, 
through which Washington street and Court street 
were to be stretched. Along the banks of these 
coves, and in the Ioav lands between the three hills of 
Trimont, the houses of the little settlement were soon 
closely clustered. 

Here, on the site since occupied by Brazer's build- 
ing, was placed the first meeting-house, wherein 
from the beginning the townsmen met to consult 
also upon temporal affairs. 

In front of the meeting-house was a lot set apart 
for a market-place as early as 1634, and definitely 
recognized as such in the Book of Possessions in 



24 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

1645. It was, as it now is, the land enclosed by the 
two arms of the street, and its dimensions have never 
been lessened. On the southerly side of State street 
Capt. Robert Keayne lived, on the corner of our 
"Washington street, with two neighbors between him 
and the meeting-house, while Elder Leverett and 
two others owned the remaining lots. On the north 
side of State street John Cogan had built the first 
shop in Boston, on the corner of Washington street; 
and down the street were the lots of Rev. John 
Wilson and seven others. Opposite, on Washington 
street, John Leverett lived on the corner, with Rich- 
ard Parker south and west. 

Such were the first surroundings of this site, 1 until, 

1 In Suffolk Deeds, hi., 386, are the depositions taken in July, 1660, of 
William Colbron, James Penn, and James Johnson, in regard to the sale of 
the meeting-house lot to Robert Thompson, of London, now of Boston. The 
price paid was £160 sterling. The lot is described as follows : " being sixty 
sixe foote long abutting upon a lane that lleth betweene the same & land 
lately appertaining unto Thomas Leverett, elder of said church, deceased, but 
now belonging to Isack Addington, on the north east side ; sixty two foote 
broad abutting upon the great streete wherein the Towne House standeth, on 
the north west side; sixty four foote long abutting partly upon the great 
streete aforesaid and partly upon an ally that passeth betweene the same, & 
the house & land of Henry Phillips, butcher, on the south west side : & 
being sixty foote broad abutting upon a lane that lieth between the same 
& the land lately belonging to Robert Scott, deceased, and now in the pos- 
session of his relict, on the south east side." 

Thus we learn that the lot had a street or an alley on each side. The 
north-west alley was Pudding Lane, now Devonshire street. The other 
alley-ways are still represented by Congress square. In 1708, in the list of 
streets, etc., we find : " The way Leadinge from y e Exchange in King Street, 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 2") 

in 1640, the meeting-house, " being decayed and too 
small," was sold, and a new one was built on the site 
since occupied by Joy's Building. The site was in 
dispute, some wishing to put it on the Green, where 
the Old South stands. Winthrop, i., 318, writes: 
"Others, viz., the tradesmen especially, who dwell 
about the market-place, desired it might stand still 
near the market, lest in time it should divert the 
chief trade from thence." In the meeting-house 



passing by Mrs. Phillips into Water street, Pudding Lane. The way Lead- 
ing from King Street by the house of Isaac Addington, Esq r , with y e returne 
into Pudding Lane, Half Square Court." In 173G, Half-square court was 
the lane "from Macearty's corner turning into Pudding Lane." In 1800, 
Half-square court was " the way round the buildings back of the Post 
Office." 

This original purchaser, Robert Thompson, was of the family ennobled as 
Barons Haversham. His son or grandson, William Thompson, of Elsham, 
county Lincoln, had a son Robert and a daughter Mary, wife of Humphrey 
Edwin, of St. Albans, county Herts. The only daughter of this last, Eliza- 
beth Edwin, married Thomas Corbett, of Damhall, county Chester, and 
14th January, 1802, Mr. and Mrs. Corbett sold to Thomas Dawes, of Bos- 
ton (Sutl. Deeds, lib. 20.3, f. 105), their building on Stale street, called 
" Boston Buildings," and also the Thompson Farm, in Chelsea. August 21, 
1S2G (Suff. Deeds, lib. 312, f. 12:', . six of the Dawes' family sold an undi- 
vided half of a lot bequeathed to them by their grandfather, Thomas Dawes, 
to John Brazer, for 818,357.75. Later deeds show the purchase of the 
remainder at the same rate. There is a plan recorded with the deed, show- 
ing 2,388 feet in all, the lot having evidently been shorn of its original lines 
on Devonshire street and the corner on State street. Upon the death of 
Mr. Brazer, in 1828, this lot came to his daughter, Mrs. Sarah Brooks, who 
died in 18G7, and whose children own it. It is a remarkable fact, that a 
large lot of land on State street should have remained so long in two 
families. 



26 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

"the general and great quarter courts are kept," 
wrote Lechford in 1640. That is to say, our incip- 
ient Legislature and primitive courts of law were 
there held; as, of necessity, must have been con- 
vened all town-meetings. At that time there were 
about two hundred and fifty householders in Boston, 
representing a population of some fifteen hundred 
persons. Even, in 1685 only ninety votes were cast 
in town-meeting to elect deputies. (Sewall, i., 67.) 
For more than a quarter of a century from the set- 
tlement of the town this provision was sufficient. 
But in 1656 Capt. Keayne died, and his will proved 
that for years he had been devising benefits for his 
fellow-townsmen. Keayne was one of the founders 
of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. 
His controversy, in 1642, with Mrs. Sherman, about a 
stray pig, had brought the two houses of the 
magistrates and deputies to such disputes that they 
had resolved to sit in different chambers. (Winthrop, 
ii., 160.) He was a merchant, and had been severely 
disciplined by the church for trying to make a profit 
on his ventures beyond the amount which the clergy 
thought proper. (Winthrop, i., 315.) We need 
not suspect Capt. Keayne of extortion, for theo- 
logians of that date had hardly escaped from the 
belief that all interest was usury and all profit a 
breach of Christian charity. Our merchant, how- 
ever, submitted to discipline, and was restored to 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 27 

popular favor, being elected to the Legislature 
and otherwise employed by the town. For three 
years before his death he had been writing 
with his own hand that enormous will of one hun- 
dred and fifty-eight folio pages, now preserved on 
our probate records, by which he disposed of 
some four thousand pounds, — an enormous fortune 
in those days. Writing laboriously and care- 
fully, evidently desiring that his money should 
be wisely expended, Keayne planned various ways 
of aiding his fellow-townsmen. One-half of Ins 
estate went to his son, the other to public uses. 
Three hundred pounds was for the Town House; one 
hundred for the Granary; fifty to the Free School ; fifty 
to the poor of his church ; one hundred to Harvard 
College; somewhat to the Artillery Company; many 
legacies to relatives, friends, and servants, — a whim- 
sical, generous, pathetic will, full of a desire to do 
good according to the best of his light. 

But the town of Boston was to receive one gift 
which would endure even to this day. Three hun- 
dred pounds were to be laid out in building a conduit 
and a market-place, " with some convenient room or 
two for the Courts to meet in both in summer and 
winter, and so for the Townsmen and Commissioners 
in the same building or the like, and a convenient 
room for a library, and a gallery, or some other hand- 
some room for the elders to meet in ; also a room for 



28 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

an armory." There was to be a room for merchants, 
masters of ships, and strangers, as well as townsfolk. 
All this, with much repetition and amendment, is set 
forth in the will; and the main part endured. 2 

In February, 1656-7, the Selectmen began to take 
action respecting the legacy, and at the town-meet- 
ing in March, 1657, "Capt [Thomas] Savage, Mr 
[Anthony] Stoddard, Mr [Jeremy] Houchin and 
Mr Ed [ward] Hutchinson" were chosen a committee 
" to consider of the modell of the towne house to bee 
built, as concerning the charge thereof, and the most 
convenient place; as also to take the subscriptions 
of the inhabitants to propagate such a building; and 
seasonably to make report to a publick townes 
meeting." Keayne had suggested Mr. [Thomas] 
Broughton and Mr. [John] Clarke, the chirurgeon, 
as good persons to devise a plan; but these others 
were trusted citizens. 

Although no picture or plan of this first Town 
House has been preserved, we can get a very good 
idea of it from the papers preserved by the Massa- 
chusetts Historical Society. These documents were 
published in Mayor Wightman's address at the laying 

* See Appendix I. for a copy of this will. His autograph is 



fipdiAt 1{4*3nu> 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 29 

of the corner-stone of the present City Hall, and are 
reprinted in Appendix F of this volume. 

The committee of four, perhaps, reported to the 
town-meeting*, for we find that on the 31st August, 
1657, Thomas Marshall, Samuel Cole (not Cobb, as is 
printed in the address), William Paddy, Joshua 
Scottow, and Jeremy Hon chin (of whom all but 
Houchin were selectmen), " having full power given 
us " to engage the town for the payment for the 
house, appointed Edward Hutchinson and John Hull 
commissioners to attend the work. These two last- 
named agreed with Thomas Joy and Bartholomew 
Bemad to erect the building for the £300 of the 
Keayne legacy, and a further sum of £100, to be 
subscribed. 

We find, also, that, as the work progressed, it 
was evident that more money would be needed, and, 
therefore, some hundred and four patriotic citizens 
contributed the* sum of £367.11. As the final pay- 
ment was £680, evidently this list contains nearly, if 
not quite, all the donors. 

The house was to be 36 feet wide and 66 feet long, 
set upon 21 pillars 10 feet high, projecting- 3 feet 
over the pillars on each side. Moreover there was a 
walk on the top, 11 or 15 feet wide, with two turrets, 
and balusters and rails round the walk. There were 
to be two pair half-paced stairs, and turned stairs up 
into the walk. We infer that there were two rooms, 



30 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

one from each end chimney coming towards the 
centre, with a staircase at each end, and that one 
of these halls was subdivided into two rooms. Good 
floors, windows, mantel-pieces, glitters, and other 
details are specified, showing that the town intended 
to have a good building. 

Exactly when the first Town House was completed 
and occupied does not appear by the records, though 
the contract with Joy and Bernad specifies that it was 
to be erected by June 30, 1(558, and covered and 
shingled within six weeks later. 

May 19, 1658, the General Court passed the fol- 
lowing order (Rec, iv., p. 327) : — 

" In answer to the request of the Select men of Boston, the court 
judgeth it meet to allow unto Boston, for and towards the charges 
of their town-house, Boston's proportion of one single country rate 
for this year ensuing, provided that sufficient rooms in the said 
house shall be forever free, for the keeping of all Courts, and also 
that the place underneath shall be free for all inhabitants in this 
jurisdiction to make use of as a market for ever, without payment 
of any toll or tribute whatsoever." 

The Selectmen of Boston voted March 28, 1659, 
that no one should smoke or bring a fire or match 
under or about the Town House except in case of 
military exercise; so that the building was probably 
then ready. 

Feb. 28, 1660-61, a settlement was ordered with 
Thomas Joy and partner " for the building of the 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 31 

towne-house stayre cases and Conduit" by paying 
therefor six hundred and eighty pounds, deducting 
what has been paid. 

Oct. 9, 1667, the Legislature ordered " the neces- 
sary full and suitable repair of the Town and Court 
House in Boston, founded by the late Captain Robert 
Keayne" one-half of the expense to be paid by the 
country, one-quarter by the county of Suffolk, one- 
quarter by the town of Boston. May 31, 1671, they 
ordered, on the same terms, " by a firm whole wall to 
the bottom of the braces, with brick or stone to re- 
pair the Court or Town House, so that all inconven- 
iences by rotting the timbers &c. be prevented." 

Josselyn, who was here in 1663, says, in his 
account printed three years later, that there is in 
Boston f< a Town House built upon pillars, where 
the Merchants may confer; in the Chambers above, 
they keep their monthly Courts." 

John Dunton, in 1686, merely repeats the same 
words. From items in the town records it seems 
that Richard Taylor hired the shop under the stairs 
at the west end of the Town House in .1661, and in 
1669 he obtained an extension of his term for sixty- 
one years. In 16(56 Robert Gibbs obtained a lease 
of the cellar under the Town House; and in 1664 
Thomas Lake and Hezekiah Usher seem to have 
been in possession of the east end of the cellar. In 
1678 Samuel Shrimpton bought out Lake's interest 



32 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

from his widow, and obtained an extension of the 
lease for thirty-nine years. "Oct. 28, 1(186, let to 
John Hayward, notary, the small shop or room in 
the westerly end of the Town House, lately occu- 
pied by JSTathaniell Barnes, for 21 years at the rent 
of ten shillings annually." 

We may therefore safely assume that, as the 
building was raised on pillars, the lower floor was 
partly partitioned off for shops, leaving a large 
space for the daily exchange. As early as 1664 
a bell was ordered to be rung at eleven o'clock 
every working day, to give notice of the assem- 
bling there for one hour of merchants, strangers, 
and inhabitants. In 1683 it was voted "that a 
note set up under the Town House upon one of 
the pillars, concerning the price of wheat, shall be 
sufficient notice to the bakers to size their bread by, 
according to law." May 11, 1(396, "agreed that 
the market appointed by law should be in and about 
the Town House, and be opened on August 11th, 
next." 

Upstairs we find that there were three rooms, 
one probably for the Governor and Council, and 
one for the Representatives; and naturally there 
would be also some anterooms. Although the first 
building covered less ground than there is in the 
present lot, it was probably because there was 
more space at the east and west ends. The first 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 33 

house was 66 feet long, the present 110, but the 
extra space was in the street. In fact, the French 
map 3 by Franquelin, made in 1693, represents the 
space occupied by the Town House to be as large 
as the present ground. 

The other portions of Keayne's plans did not prove 
so permanent. In 1684 and in 1695 mention is made 
of the Town's Library; but it was perhaps lost in 
the fire, 1711. As to his Conduit, we know that it 
failed in some twelve years. It was doubtless to 
be constructed in imitation of the structures then 
common in England. " They are a kind of stone 
cage or cap, under cover of which the conduit pipe 
rises to the top and then lets down its stream; 
sometimes openly (the cap being a cage), some- 
times unseen, to a reservoir near the bottom." 4 
The waste-water was allowed to escape by paved 
gutters, or otherwise to seek the earth. Doubt- 
less Captain Keayne expected to utilize the springs 
near his house as a supply of water for daily use, 
and " especially in case of fire." But such open 
streams were unsuited to this climate; and that feat- 
ure of English towns could not be imitated here. 
In March, 1672 (Town Records, ii., 66), it was 

3 A careful copy of this map is in our Public Library, and heliotypes there- 
from have been freely issued. 

* Prof. William Everett has kindly furnished the above description from 
his observation in England. 



34 OLD 8TATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

voted that, as the work " by the Providence of God 
hath not proved so useful as was expected and 
desired," by an agreement with the overseers of 
Keayne's will, "liberty was given to Mr. Nicholas 
Page to take away the bricks belonging to the 
place intended for a conduit at the end of the Town 
House, before his door, provided he immediately fill 
the place even with the ground about it." As Page 
had bought of the town its half of the new house, 
adjoining Keayne's old one, which K.'s overseers 
had given in payment of the legacy, it is clear that 
the conduit was planned to be on the south fork of 
State street, beside the Town House. 



The first building stood from 1658 to 1711, when 
it was burned in a terrible conflagration. In it pre- 
sided Governors Endicott, Bellingham, Leverett, and 
Bradstreet, under the old charter ; Andros, under the 
orders of King James ; and Phips, Stoughton, Bello- 
mont, and Joseph Dudley under the new charter. 
Through many perils — from Indian foes, from 
English tyranny, and from domestic treachery — the 
settlement steadily increased in population and 
wealth during these fifty-three years. It is estimated 
by Shattuck that the population of Boston was, in 
A.D. 1680, four thousand five hundred persons; in 
A.D. 1690, seven thousand persons; in A.D. 1700, 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 35 

six thousand seven hundred persons; in A.D. 1710, 
nine thousand persons. 

At one time, indeed, in 1G89, this Town House was 
the centre' of a revolution. In April of that year 
the colonists, inspired by the news that William of 
Orange had landed in England, took the desperate 
resolve to rebel against King James and his gov- 
ernor here. It was a rash venture ; but it succeeded. 
Within the previous year Andros, a veteran soldier 
of large experience, had constructed on the neighbor- 
ing height a fortification, which gave its name to 
Fort Hill. He had royal troops under his command, 
and a man-of-war was anchored off the shore. But 
the leaders of the people assembled at the Town 
House in Boston, supported by the bold and resolute 
freemen of the colony, and in a single day the royal 
authority was overthrown. 5 It should be forever 
remembered that, although a like success in England 
at the same time secured the immunity of these Bos- 



5 In Byfield's Account, reprinted in the Andros Tracts, he states that 
Gov. Andros, having been captured at the Fort, was " conveyed to the 
Council-house, where Mr. Bradstreet and the rest of the Gentlemen waited 
to receive him." Hutchinson, i., 381, says, " A long declaration was read 
from a balcony or gallery of the Towne House." Beside this there was a 
broadside issued, subscribed by Wait Winthrop, Simon Bradstreet, and thir- 
teen others, dated " at the Town House in Boston, April 18, 1689," stating 
to Gov. Andros that " We judge it necessary you forthwith surrender and 
deliver up the Government and Fortification, to be preserved and disposed 
according to Order and Direction from the Crown of England, which 
suddenly is expected may arrive." 



36 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

tonians, the actors here were then ignorant of that 
event, and for at least a month they were open and 
avowed rebels. Nor can it be doubted that the 
whole course of our history was immensely influ- 
enced by the fact that, when William and Mary 
ascended the throne, they found the colony of Massa- 
chusetts so far distinguished from other colonies as 
to have fought independently for its rights. This 
old Town House was the first shrine of liberty; and 
every subsequent act can be clearly shown to be the 
natural and logical consequence of that first uprising 
of a frpe people. 



As the centre of the town this old hall must have 
witnessed many stirring scenes. Unfortunately, 
until we reach the date of Sewall's invaluable Diary, 
we have no warrant for the details. 

Sewall (i., 138) notes, under date of May 17, 1(586, 
" General Court sits at one o'clock, I goe thither 
about 3. The Old Government draws to the 
North-side, Mr. Addington, Capt. Smith and I sit 

at the Table, there not being room 

Came also Capt. of King's Frigot Gov r . Hinkly, 
Gov r . West and sate on the Bench, and the Koom 
pretty well filled with Spectators in an Instant." 
May 18 he mentions a great wedding celebrated at 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 37 

Mr. Shrimpton's by Mr. Randolph's chaplain, " when 
Prayer was had at the Town House." 

May 20, 168(3, he notes that Mr. Ratcliffe and the 
Episcopalians asked to have one of the three 
churches to preach in. " That is denyed and he is 
granted the East-End of the Town House, where the 
Deputies used to meet, until those who desire his 
Ministry shall provide a fitter place." 

Dec. 20, 1686, Gov. Andros arrives, "lands at 
Gov r . Leverett's wharf about 2 P.M. when the 
President, &c, meet him, and so march up through 
the Guards of the 8 Companyes to the Town House 
where part of the Commission read." 

December 25, 1686. " Governour goes to the 
Town House to Service Forenoon and Afternoon, a 
Red-Coat going on his right hand and Capt. George 
on his left." January 31, 1686-7. "There is a 
meeting at the Town House forenoon and afternoon : 
Bell rung for it, respecting the beheading Charles 
the First: Governour there." 

April 26, 1687. "Court sits, President in the 
Governour's seat, Mr. Stoughton at his right hand, 
Col. Shrimpton next him; Mr. Lynde at his left 
hand, Major Lidget next him." 

From these notes we infer that before Andros's 
time the Deputies had the chamber on the east end. 
Afterwards the Supreme Court held its sessions 
in the room appropriated to the Governor and 



38 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Council, which probably was the same East Chamber, 
as the Deputies were no part of the government 
under the Andros administration. This room, hav- 
ing once become the property of the Governor and 
Council, seems to have remained in use by them 
until the Revolution. 

On May 14, 1692, Sir William Phips arrived, the 
first governor under the Second or Provincial Char- 
ter. 6 Sewall writes (Diary, i., 360) : " Sir William 
arrives in the Nonsuch Frigat: Candles are lighted 
before he gets into Town-house. Eight Companies 
wait on Him to his house, and then on Mr. Mather 
to his. Made no volleys because 'twas Satterday 
night." " Monday, May 16. Eight Companies and 
two from Charlestown guard Sir William and his 
Councillors to the Town-house where the Commis- 
sions are read and Oaths taken." Boston, at this 
date, had not far from one thousand houses and 
seven thousand inhabitants (Palfrey, iv., 136) ; but 
at the election of a representative in May, 1698, 

6 Palfrey (Hist., iii., 590) thus describes the scene: " From far and near 
the people flocked into Boston ; the government, attended by the principal 
gentlemen of the capital and the towns around, passed in procession on 
horseback through the thoroughfares ; the regiment of the town and com- 
panies and troops of horse and foot from the country, lent their pomp to 
the show; there was a great dinner at the Town House for the better sort; 
wine was served out in the streets ; and the evening was made noisy with 
acclamations, till the bell rang at nine o'clock, and families met to thank 
God at the domestic altar, for causing the great sorrow to pass away, and 
giving a Protestant King and Queen to England." 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 39 

when there was a spirited contest, only three hun- 
dred and eighteen votes were cast. (Sewall, i., 
480.) 

Phips's administration lasted only two years and a 
half, and is forever darkened by the shadow of the 
witchcraft delusion and its judicial murders. Hap- 
pily for us, none of the sentences were pronounced 
in Boston; though at the last court held here 
one Mary Watkins, a servant, despite the ver- 
dict of the jury, was imprisoned by order of the 
court, and sold into bondage in Virginia. (Drake, 
Hist., 503.) Hutchinson (Hist., ii., 61) relates that 
Dame Mary Phips, the governor's wife? was ap- 
plied to in behalf of a woman held for trial for 
witchcraft. 

,f The good lady, propria virliite, granted and 
signed a warrant for the woman's discharge, which 
was obeyed by the keeper, and the woman lives still 
for aught I know." It is fair to conclude that the 
document was in the usual form, and was taken 
from the official papers in the governor's chamber. 
We may safely infer that in this building the first 
female governor exercised her rights, and we may 
rejoice that the usurpation was for the glorious pre- 
rogative of pardon. 

From November, 1094, to June, 1702, the govern- 
ment was mainly in the hands of Lieut. Governor 
Stoughton, though for a year the Earl of Bellomont 



40 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

was the nominal governor. Just before the arrival 
of Bellomont, news was received of the rejection 
of several of our laws by the home government. 
Sewall (i., 496) thus describes the scene: " Drum is 
beat and Allowance and Disallowance of the Acts is 
published. Lieutenant Governor [Stoughton] and 
Council standing in the Gallery. Great many 
Auditors below." 

Sewall records (Diary, i., 458), that on September 
8, 1697, " the Governour and Council first meet in the 
Council Chamber, as it is now fitted with ceiling, 
Glazing, Painting, new Floor that brings it to a 
Level; New Hearth even with it." This meeting 
was made noteworthy by the announcement by Col. 
Pierce that limestone had been discovered at New- 
bury, — a matter of the highest importance, as, up to 
that time, the colonists had been obliged to burn 
oyster-shells for lime. Nov. 14, 1698, a rate of 
£60 was ordered for the repairing of the Town 
House, and no other use. 

Another day of excitement in the old building 
must have been that one in July, 1699, when Captain 
William Kidd was examined by Lord Bellomont and 
his Council, charged with many notorious piracies. 
Research, which destroys so many illusions, shows 
us that the noted pirate was far from being so 
wicked or so bloodthirsty as fame reported, and 
certainly reveals a strong infusion of poltroonery in 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 41 

his character. The muse, however, promptly re- 
corded of him: — 

" My name was William Kidd, 
As I sailed, as I sailed, 
And most wickedly I did, 
As I sailed." 

As an evidence of the various uses to which the 
building was put, we find that in 1701, " because of 
the Rain and Mist," the election of captain of the 
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company was held 
in the Town House, when the choice fell upon Judge 
Sewall. " They calPd down the Council out of the 
Chamber and set their chairs below: Col. Pynchon 

gave the Staves and Ensign Drew 

out before Mr. Usher's, gave three volleys; drew T 
into the Town House again." Then Rev. Mr. Pem- 
berton prayed, and the company escorted their 
commander safely home. So again in 1702, " rainy- 
day, we exercise on the Town House in the Morn." 

On May 28, 1702, news arrived at Boston of the 
death of King AVilliam. 

" And at last the Gazette, containing the Proclaim- 
ing of the Queen came to hand. Then we resolved 
to proclaim her Majesty here. Regiment drawn up, 
and Life-Guard of House; Council, Representatives, 
Ministers, Justices, Gentlemen, taken within the 
Guard. Mi-. Secretary, on foot, read the order of 
the Council, the Proclamation and Queen's Procla- 



42 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

mation for continuing Commissions. Mr. Sheriff 
Gookin gave it to the people. Volleys. Guns. 
Went into chamber to drink." (Sewall, ii., 56.) 

June 1, 1703. " Town-meeting is held in the old 
Meeting-house because of the General Assembly; 
2 p.m. Voters two hundred and six." This entry of 
Sewall confirms our suspicion that the Legislature 
had the first claim to occupy the building. In March, 
1706-7, the records show that the town meeting was 
held in the old meeting-house. 

In 1704 Captain John Quelch and five other 
pirates were tried here, and sentenced to be hung. 
The sentence was executed June 30. Sewall gives 
us at this time the following picture: "As the 
Governor [Dudley] sat at the Council-Table 'twas 
told him Madam Paige [his niece] was dead. He 
clap'd his hands, and quickly went out, and 
return'd not to the Chamber again; but ordered 
Mr. Secretary to prorogue the Court till the 16th of 
August, which Mr. Secretary did by going into the 
House of Deputies." (Sewall, ii., 109.) 

Sewall records on February 6, 1707-8 : ff Queen's 
Birthday. I could not find it in my heart to go to 
the Town House, because hardly anything is pro- 
fessedly there done but drinking Healths." 

1708-9, January 6. ' r Presently after Lecture, the 
Act of Parliament regulating Coin is published by 
Beat of Drum and Sound of Trumpet." (Sewall, ii., 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 43 

248.) Undoubtedly from the balcony of the Council 
Chamber. 

March 13, 1709-10. " General Town Meeting. Mr. 
Cotton Mather went to Prayer; I stood in the Lobby, 
then went into the Council Chamber. Constable 

came to me and surprised me with telling me 

that I was Chosen Moderator. I went in, and they 
would have me sit on the Seat, which I did." (Sewall, 
ii., 275.) 

From this entry it seems that the town meetings 
were held in the Representatives' Hall, which could 
well hold the citizens, as the voters only numbered 
about two hundred. Other entries make it probable 
that the Supreme Court also used that room, the 
Council Chamber serving as a consultation room 
for the judges. 

In 1711 the town was much agitated by the 
arrival of some fifteen men-of-war and seven thou- 
sand troops destined for an attack on Quebec. 
There were abundant festivities and solemn ex- 
change of courtesies between the English and our 
local authorities. The ignominious failure of the ex- 
pedition was a sad blow to Massachusetts, although 
the loss of life was confined mainly to the ships of 
the British portion of the fleet. 

To add to the general depression, a great fire in 
lioston occurred "about 7 or 8 o'clock of the night 
between the 2d and 3d of October." " It broke out 



44 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

in an old Tenement within a back Yard in Cornhill 
(i.e., our Washington street), near the First Meeting- 
house, occasioned by the carelessness of a poor 
Scottish Woman (one Mary Morse), by using Fire 
near a parcel of Ocum, Chips, and other combustible 
Rubbish." This spot was in or near Williams' 
Court. " All the houses on both sides of Cornhill 
[Washington street] from School street to what 
is called the stone-shop in Dock-square, all the 
upper part of King street [State street] on the south 
and north side, together with the Town House, and 
what was called the Old Meeting-House above 
it, were consumed to ashes." (Hutchinson, ii., 
200.) 

Thus ended, after half a century's use, the first 
Town House which has stood on this spot. Of 
course it was necessary to replace it at once ; and on 
the 17th of October the Selectmen of Boston ad- 
dressed the Legislature, asking its " Advice and 
Direction for the Restoring and Rebuilding of the 
House for those Publick Uses, and about the place 
where to set the same." ' 

A joint committee of four councillors and seven 
deputies, with Elisha Hutchinson, chairman, was at 
once appointed, who recommend that a new house 
be built "in or near where the Old Town House 
stood," the r<: breadth not to exceed thidy-six feet, the 

1 See Appendix B for copies of the acts, and other votes. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 45 

length so as to be convenient." f The charge to be 
borne the one half by the Province, the other half by 
the Town of Boston and County of Suffolk in equal 
Proportion." 

Accordingly, a new committee was appointed, viz.: 
Elisha Hutchinson and Penn Townsend, councillors, 
Addington Davenport, Samuel Thaxter and Capt. 
Phipps, deputies, to attend to the affair, with two 
persons to be added by the town of Boston. The 
town assented, and joined Thomas Brattle and 
William Payne. 

March 12, 1711-12, the Legislature voted, as 
instructions to the committee, that the building be 
not more than one hundred and twelve feet nor less 
than one hundred and ten feet in length. November 
17, 1712, they voted as instructions to the committee, 
ff that they fit the East Chamber for the Use of His 
Excellency the Governor and the Honorable the 
Council, the Middle Chamber for the House, the 
West Chamber for the Superior and Inferior Courts." 
And " that there be but two Offices below Stairs in 
the Province and Court House now Building in 
Boston, one for the Secretary, the other for the Reg- 
ister of Deeds in the County of Suffolk." 

Although we do not know who designed the brick 
building which speedily arose on the site, we can 
to-day inspect its sturdy walls and recognize the 
influence of the Queen Anne period. It is beyond 



46 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

controversy that the fire of 1747 and the various 
changes which have been made in the building, in 
no way affected the exterior walls. We are to-day 
assembled in a building which dates back to A.D. 
1713, and we can form a correct idea of its original 
and ever continuing appearance. 

In 1720 Daniel ISTeal printed his "Present State 
of !N"ew England," and thus describes the building in 
its earliest days : — 

" From the Head of the Peer you go up the chief Street of the 
Tovra, at the upper End of which is the Town House or Exchange ; 
a fine Piece of Building, containing besides the Walk for the 
Merchants, the Council Chamber, the House of Commons, and 
another spacious Room for the Sessions of the Courts of Justice, 
the Exchange is surrounded with Booksellers Shops, which have a 
good Trade." (Neal, p. 587.) 

In 1708 it was computed that Boston had twelve 
or thirteen thousand inhabitants; in 1720, eighteen or 
twenty thousand. (Neal, 601.) The Council con- 
sisted of twenty-eight members, the House of one 
hundred and three. (Neal, 605.) 

Duriug the eighteen months which were needed 
for rebuilding the Town House, the town meetings 
were held as follows: JSTov. 16, 1711, in Rev. Mr. 
Colman's meeting-house in Brattle street; March, 
1712, in the same; March, 1712-13, at the south 
meeting-house, and May 13, 1713, in the new Town 
House. Sewall records (ii., 387), May 28, 1713,— 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 47 

"All the Councillors are sworn except Major 
Brown, who was not in Town. In the afternoon 
I declar'd to the Council that Prayer had been too 
much neglected formerly; we were now in a New 
House, we ought to Reform; without it, I would 
not be there. Mr. Secretary assented, and I was 
desired to see it effected. May 29. Dr. Increase 
Mather prays Excellently in the Council." 

For some years at least this custom of beginning 
a session of the Council with prayer was con- 
tinued. 

It seems from SewalPs notes that there was a large 
table in the council-chamber, at which the members 
sat, and that the Governor occupied the head of it. 8 

"Oct. 15, 1713, Sewall records (ii., 402) : " I observ'd Two Leather Chairs 
were set at the end of the Council Table and the Elbow Chair set aside. 
But when Gen 1 . Nicholson staid not to sit down, they were remov'd, and the 
Governor's Arm'd Chair took place again." 

Feb. 6, 1713-14. "I went to the Town House on the occasion of the 
Queen's Birthday. Mr. Bromfield and I sat awhile in one of the windows, 
Table being full; afterwards sat in." Later on that evening, one Mr. Net- 
maker, secretary to Gen. Nicholson, was drunk and disorderly in a tavern 
and Sewall ordered his arrest. On March 0th Sewall was at a meeting of 
the Council. "Sat round a little Fire. I happen'd to sit next Gen 1 . Nich- 
olson. . . . Then with a Eoaring Noise the General said, ' I demand Justice 
against Mr. Sewall and Pemberton for sending my Secretary to prison 
without acquainting me with it! ' And hastily rose up, and went down and 
walk'd the Exchange, where he was so furiously Loud, that the Noise was 
plainly heard in the Council-Chamber, the door being shut." 

Sept. 24th, 1715. The Governor comes to Town. Flagg [the messenger] 
warns [the Council to meet]. Governor sits by the side of the Table facing 
to the South; Lt. Governor [Tailer] in one of the South windows. The 



48 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

It is a fair inference that this table reached from the 
east window towards the door, and if so it was in 
conformity to our New England custom, by which the 
minister or other presiding officer is so invariably 
placed in front of a window. 

To this council-chamber the deputies were sum- 
moned, and committees of that body were here re- 
ceived. At such conferences the Governor was not 
allowed to take part, though on one occasion at least 
he remained in the room. There was a " closet," 
probably one of the anterooms opening from the 
chamber, to which the Governor could withdraw for 
private consultation; 9 and perhaps the other ante- 
room was needed for the accommodations of the 
twenty-eight councillors. 

It seems that in this chamber the Overseers of Har- 

Commissions were produced and Read, Oaths given. ... At length the 
Governor dictated to the Clerk to this purpose. Whether the Government 
was devolved on the Lieutenant Governor, the Commission of Gov. Bur- 
gess nor any copy of it, not being arrived. It was, nemine contradiccnte, 
carried in the Negative." (Sewall, iii., 59.) 

9 " Feb. 12, 1717-18. I salute Cousin Quincy in Council. . . . The 
Governour calls me into the Closet and tells me he would make me Chief 
Judge." (Sewall, iii., 168.) 

"Feb. 25, 1718-19. The judges meet p.m. in the Council Chamber, 
before the Meeting of the Council. . . . Then, in the Closet, voted it con- 
venient to have two Clerks." (Sewall, iii., 213.) 

"Dec. 19, 1722. His Excellency took me aside to the South-East win- 
dow of the Council Chamber to speak to me. . . . Dec. 21. The Governor 
took me to the window again looking Eastward, next Mrs. Phillips', and 
spake to me again." (Sewall, iii., 315.) 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 49 

yard College met at times, as did the Commissioners 
of the Society for propagating the Gospel among the 
Indians, March 27, 1729 (Sewall, hi., 395). Once, 
March 29, 1720 (Sewall. iii., 248), the "Inspectors 
of the Grammar Schools " of Boston met there. The 
chamber was also used as a consultation room for the 
judges. 10 Notwithstanding the order to construct a 
west room for the courts, it is very doubtful if this 
were really done. In 1717 Sewall speaks of a trial 
held in the old meeting-house opposite, while sentence 
was pronounced in the court chamber. 11 Was not this 
the chamber of the Great and General Court, that is, 
our House of Representatives? When the fire of 1747 
took place, mention is made of the " Council Cham- 
ber, the Chamber of the House of Representatives 
and the Apartments thereof, in that Story." Another 
account speaks of "the Council Chamber" and "both 
the Lobbies," and also the " Offices kept in the Upper 
Story"; but it says "the County Records and Papers 
belonging to the Inferior Court being deposited in an 



">"Feb. 13, 1718-19. All the Judges desired to be at the Governor's 
bouse at 5 p.m. Met accordingly. . . . The Judges went to the Council 
Chamber, &c, &c." 

""May 9, 1717. Jeremy Phenix arraigned in the Court Chamber. 10. 
Try'd in the old Meeting-house. Mr. Auckmooty was Counsel for the 
Prisoner and had family with him in the Fore-seat of the Women, though 
he be bound over for notorious words against the Government." "May 
11th. I pass'd Sentence upon Phenix, the Chief Justice being absent. 
This was done in the Court Chamber." (Sewall, iii., 130.) 



50 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Office upon the lower Floor, were most of them pre- 
served." 

There is proof that the Council Chamber was the 
scene of festivities on state occasions, such as the 
birthday of the sovereign or his accession, the arrival 
of a new governor, etc. 12 Here also were held pub- 
lic funerals, as in the case of Fitz-John Winthrop. 13 
From the balcony, at the east end, it was customary 
to proclaim the laws, with sound of trumpets and 

12 October 5, 1 7 1*1, Gov. Shute arrived in Boston. "Ministers net the 
Governor a. little before he got to the Town House. Col. Joseph Dudley 
nearer, and went up and sat with the Council. Col. Tailer met the Governor 
at the Stairs, and took place of Lt.-Gov. Dummer: and when Dummer was 
sworn, gave him the place. Gov. [Shute], Lt. Gov. [Dummer] laid their 
hands on the Bible, and Kissed it very industriously." (Sewall, iii.. 105. I 

The return of Gov. Shirley, Nov. 7, 1745, after the surrender of Louis- 
burg, was here celebrated (K. G. Drake. Hist., p. 621), and so, also, on June 
24, 1746, was the arrival of Gen. Pepperell and Admiral Warren. On the 
18th Sept.. 1749, the indemnity voted by Parliament arrived, amounting to 
£183,649. At that time a pound sterling equalled eleven pounds old tenor, 
or thirty shillings new tenor, so greal had heen the depreciation of paper 
money. 

'■■■March 2:'.. 1714-15. .Mr. Aldington [the late Secretary] buried from 
the Council Chamber; 'twas a sad spectacle." .Sewall, iii.. II. 

■■Nov. 1 1th, 1717. Attended the Funeral of Major-General Winthrop. 
The Corpse was carried to the Town House the night before: now buried 
from the Council Chamber. Bearers, his Excellency the Governor [Shute], 
Gov. Dudley: Lt. Gov. Dummer, Col. Taylor: Col. Elisha Sewall, Samuel 
Sewall. Scarfs and Rings. The Regiment attended in Arms. Mr. John 
Winthrop led the Widow. "I'was past five before we went. The Streets 
were crowded with people: was laid in Gov. Winthrop's Tomb in old 
Burial Place." (Sewall, iii., 147.) 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE DEDICATION. ,^1 

heat of drums; 14 and doubtless from so convenient 
an elevation, loyal addresses were delivered to the 
assembled townsmen on occasion. 

As it happens, we know much less of the arrange- 
ment of the Representatives' Hall at this period, as 
our chief authority, Sewall, was a councillor and 
judge. We know that the number of deputies was 
one hundred and three in 1720, and as new towns 
were eorporated, the number rose to about one 
hundred and twenty-five. 

The speaker was annually chosen, and the choice 
submitted to the governor, who rarely negatived. 
In 1705, Thomas Oakes; in 1720, Elisha Cook; in 
1730, Paul Dudley; in 1741, Samuel Watts; in 1766, 
James Otis, were respectively chosen and set aside. 
The House also elected a clerk, hut the office was 
generally continued from year to year. 

The forms of the House were probably copied 
from those of Parliament, the council figuring as 
our House of Lords. The will of the Governor 
was signified by messages or speeches; the wishes 
of the deputies by committees and by messages. 
Hutchinson says (ii., 259), apropos of a quarrel be- 
tween Governor Dudley and the House about the 

14 "Feb. Itli. 1714-15. Drew up ;i Proclamation. . . . Published it by 
Beat of Drum. Paper was sullied with the Rain. Mr. Hiller read it cut of 
the Council-Chamber Gallery. Col. Checkley, Major Fitch, Capl Abijah 
Savage, &c, present." (Sewall, iii.. 38. 



52 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

power of adjournment," It has always been the prac- 
tice of the House, before and since, upon a message 
from the Governor, t<> stop all business and go up 
withoul delay." It seems also that divisions of the 
House were made by going to the north and south 
sides. 1 " We infer from this that the speaker sat at 
the west end, facing the main doors, and that 
the deputies were marshalled by him on either 
hand. 

The town records contain but very little informa- 
tion in regard to the Town House from 1711 to 
1717. 

The following items are all that have been gleaned 
by an examination of the indices to the volumes. 

Sept. 25, 1716, the selectmen, learning that a sale 
of a ship had been appointed by the Court of 
Admiralty "at the place where the Court is held," 1 ' 
voted that "the management of a Publick sale in the 
Town House is forreign from the declared Intentions 
in Erecting thereof, and that such a President may 
be of 111 Tendency." 

April 27. 171 ( .>, "Mr. John Flagg is directed to 
cleanse the Windows of the Town House." 

15 "June l.'Ith. 1717. Council declared that Cambridge is the Shire-town 
for Middlesex." " 14. The Deputies Concur. Could not tell by lifting up 
the Hands, were tain to divide the House. They for Cambridge went to the 

North side, they for Charlestown to the South. Cambridge had 46, Charles- 
town 41. as Brother Northend. one of the Monitors, informed me.'" (Sewall, 
ui., 132.) 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE DEDICATION. 53 

1717-1718. Benjamin Bagnald agrees to make a 
Town Clock "and if desired he will make the same 
to go as an eighl day Clock in the place where it 
now stands." April 25, 17:>o. Bagnald is to take 
care of the Town clock at the Old Meeting House, 
for one year, for £10. 

Feb. 13,1733-4:. The selectmen voted "that to- 
morrow at three of the clock the select men meet at 
the Town House to view the small arms lodged in 
the Town's Armoury, and that Mr. Treat, gunsmith, 
be ordered to attend and assist at the view." Ac- 
cordingly, Messrs. Treat and Miller, gunsmiths, 
"were directed to proceed with all the expedition 
possible to the cleaning the arms, and putting them 
in order for us, when occasion shall require." 

Feb. 25, 17133-4. " Voted that speedy care be taken 
to fit up a proper office for the Town Clerk, for 
reposing and securing his books, and that it he in 
part of the Green Chamber." 

July 13, 1736, the selectmen voted "to repair the 
balcony at the east end of the Town House, fronting 
King st." 

Aug. 27, 1736, voted also "to order tin- new paint- 
ing the sun Dials on the Town House, and to clear 
the gutters and water-spouts belonging to it." 

June 14,1738. They voted "to put a good and 
substantial post at each corner of the westerly end 
of the Town House to prevent damage by carts." 



,")4 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

July 20, 1738, "to take care that the easterly 
stairs of the Town House be repaired." 

Oct. 31, 1739. They leased for one year, for £30, 
to Joseph Saved, wine cooper, two cellars under the 
Town House lately occupied by Jonathan Williams 
and James Townsend: viz., one at the south-west cor- 
ner and the other at the north-east corner. In 1741 
these were let respectively to Samuel Wentworth and 
John Grooch. Dec. 24, 1740, John Buttolph leased a 
cellar there, formerly occupied by his father, for £22. 

Aug. 3, 1743, "the east end of the Town House 
to be put in repairs and other necessary repairs 
within side.' 1 

Sept. 5, 1744, "voted to repair the chimneys in the 
Town House." 

In this chamber, from 1711 to 1747, presided as 
Governor, Joseph Dudley, William Taller ™ Samuel 
Shute, William Dummer, Jonathan Belcher and 
William Shirley, all upright and worthy men, but all 
of them so hampered by restrictions from the home 
government, as to be frequently involved in disputes 
with the representatives of the people. During this 
period the population increased steadily from eleven 
thousand in 1715 to seventeen thousand in 1744, 
though after the last date it remained stationary or 
slightly decreased. 



16 Tailer and Dummer were Lieutenant Governors, acting in the place of 
the Governors. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. .V; 

It was in this chamber that there was planned, 
in 1746, the military enterprise which was the 
proudest boast of our provincial history. Tu Janu- 
ary of that year Gov. Shirley laid before the 
Legislature, under a pledge of secrecy, his project 
of capturing Louisburg from the French, by means 
of provincial troops only. On January 25 the 
consent of the House was carried by a single 
vote. William Pepperell, a member of the Council, 
was given command, and by April 1 our troops 
had arrived at Canso. The fortunate arrival of 
Admiral Warren, with a considerable licet. was 
one of the many lucky accidents which turned 
this quixotic scheme into a glorious success. On 
June 17 the fortress surrendered, and the " Gib- 
raltar of America " became our prize. 

It was a splendid victory, for it gave assurance 
to England that a new military power had arisen 
in her colonies, and one thus far entirely loyal 
to the crown. As Palfrey says, "As things 
turned out, it is not too much to say that the 
capture of Louisburg gave peace to Europe." 

It was not until the following year that Pep- 
perell was able to receive the deserved honors 
which his countrymen were ready to shower 
upon him. 

The Boston Evening Post, for Monday, June 
30, 1740, describes the arrival, on the preceding 



56 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Tuesday, of his Majesty's Ship "Chester," of 50 
guns, bringing Admiral Peter Warren and Sir 
William Pepperell. The Governor met them at 
Castle William, and, landing at Long wharf about 
five o'clock, " they were received and congratulated 
by the Honourable Gentlemen of his Majesty's 
Council and House of Representatives, and being 
attended by his Excellency's Company of Cadets 
under arms, made a handsome procession to the 
Council Chamber." 

Then the Speaker and the House proceeded to 
the Council Chamber, where a brief address was 
made to Warren and Pepperell, who as briefly 
replied. Later a committee of the House was 
appointed to congratulate Brigadier General Samuel 
Waldo, " on his safe return to his native country." 

It was from the veterans of the French wars 
of this period that the heroes of the win- of In- 
dependence were drawn. But for the martial 
spirit aroused by these campaigns, and the lessons 
of military science therein taught, our forefathers 
would have been but an undisciplined mob in 
1775. To give one example: Col. Richard Grid- 
ley, who commanded the artillery at Louisburg, 
thirty years later, traced and constructed the 
battery on Hunker's Hill. 

In November, 1747, the Town House was the 
centre of another uprising. Commodore Knowles 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 57 

was in command of a fleet lying off the harbor. 
Having lost some deserters, he sent a press-gang into 
the harbor, seizing sailors from the ships, and even 
landsmen from the wharves. There was al once an 
outburst of popular indignation, in which all ranks 
joined. rP As soon as it was dusk, several thousand 
people assembled in King street, below the Town 
House, where the General Court was sitting. Stones 
and brick batts were tin-own through the glass into 
the Council Chamber. The Governor [Shirley], 
however, with several gentlemen of the Council and 
House, ventured into the balcony" (Hutchinson, ii.. 
432), and alter silence was obtained addressed the 
assemblage. He promised to try to obtain the 
release of the townsmen; but the crowd was not to 
he thus pacified. For three days the contest con- 
tinued, the people having seized some of the officers 
from the iieet as hostages, and the commodore 
threatening to bombard the town by way of reprisal. 
Finally the Legislature interposed with promises to 
both sides; the impressed men were liberated and the 
squadron sailed, to the great relief of all in authority. 

On Wednesday, December 9, 1747, the Town 
House was greatly injured by a (ire. The following 
extract from the newspapers will explain the extent 
of the loss: — 

"Yesterday morning between 6& 7 o'clock we were exceedingly 
surprised by a most terrible Fire, which broke out at the Court 



58 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

House in this Town, whereby that spacious and beautiful Building 
excepl the bare outward Walls, was entirely destroyed. As the 
Fire began in the middle or second Story, the Records, Books, 
Papers, Furniture, Pictures of the Kings and Queens, &c, which 
were in the Council Chamber, the Chamber of the House of Repre- 
sentatives and the Apartments thereof, in thai Story, were con- 
sumed ; as were also the Books and Papers in the Offices of the 
upper Story: Those in the Offices below were mostly saved. In 
the Cellars which wen- hired by several persons, a great quantity 
of Wines and other Liquors were lost. The publick Damage 
sustain'd by this sad Disaster is inexpressibly great and the Loss 
to some particular Persons, 'tis said will amount to several Thou- 
sand Pounds. The Vehemence of the Flames occasion'd such a 
great Heat as to set the Roofs of some of the opposite houses on 
Fire notwithstanding they had been covered with Snow, and it was 
extinguished with much Difficult}'. How the File was occasion'd, 
whether by Defects in the Chimney or Dearth as some think, is 
uncertain." — Boston Weekly Neivs Letter, Thursday, DecemberlO, 
1747. 

The account in the Boston Evening Post,* for the 
fourteenth of December, adds : — 

,k The line Pictures and other Furniture in the Council Chamber 
were destroyed as wire also the Books, Papers and Records in 
both the Lobbies, and those in the Offices kept in the upper Story ; 
but the County Records and Papers belonging to the Inferiour 
Court, being deposited in an Ollice upon the lower Floor, were 
most of them preserved." 

The same paper prints the following extracts 
from the Journal of the Hovlsi of Representatives: — 

* The account in the GazetU Ls in lopendix J. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. ."?.} 

"12 Dec( mber, A.D. 17 17. 

'*Upona motion made and seconded, 

•■ Resolved, that the House now make particular Enquiry bow 
tne late Fire in the Court House was first discovered, and by what 
Means it was occasioned. After examining the Door-keeper and 
receiving a particular account of the Time and Circumstances of 
his leaving the House the Evening before, and enquiring of those 
Gentlemen who early discovered the Fire. 

•• Resolved, That it appears to the Satisfaction of this House, that 
the late Fire which consumed the Court House, proceeded from the 
Wood-work under the Hearth taking Fire, and that the Fire first 
broke out in the Entry-way between the Council Chamber and the 
Representatives Room, and from thence went up the Stair Case. 
and through the Roof, and continued until the House was con- 
sumed." 

The following- letter of Secretary Willard t<> 
Christopher Kilby and William Bollan, agents of the 
province in London, is copied from vol. 1 of the 
" .Records of Plymouth County," giving- the "Acts 
of Commissioners of the United Colonics ol* New 
England," edited by David Pulsifer: — 

■• Boston, Dec'r 21, 17 17. 
•• Gentlemen I am now to give you the sorrowful News of the 
grievous & surprizing Rebuke of Divine Providence on the Gov- 
ernm'nt of this Province in the Destruction of the Court House by 
Fire which happened in the Morning of the ninth Instant. It was 
generally concluded to have begun in the Floor under the chimneys 
of the Council Chamber & Mouse of Representees & was nol 
discover'd till it was greatly increased; All the Books of the Gen- 
eral Court. Govern'r & Council & House of Reprent'ves there in 



(50 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

the House were wholly lost without saving one & all the Books ol 
Commiss'ns and other Instrum'ts as well from the Crown as the 
Grovernm'1 of the Province with most of ye original Papers are 
likewise consumed." 

The Genera] Court was offered the use of Paneuil 
Hall, but was accommodated for the few days 
remaining in the session at the Royal Exchange 
tavern, kept by Luke Vardy, on the west corner of 
our present Exchange and State streets. 17 

It seems that, as in 1711, the expense of the repairs 
was paid, one-half by the Province, one-quarter each 
by the town of Boston, and the county of Suffolk. 
The expense was £3,705 lis. 4d. lawful money. 
Whatever plans were made for this restoration, it 
would seem that the exterior walls at least were not 
touched. (See Appendix C.) 

Fortunately, as in Neal's case, in 1720, we have 
a description of the new building from one who 
saw it in its freshness. Capt. Francis Goelet (whose 

11 The rather churlish vote of the Selectmen, as given below, may 
explain the disinclination of the Governor to accept the offer: — ■ 

Dec 16, 1 747. Voted "that libertj be and hereby is granted to his 
Excellency the Governour and the Honorable his Majesty's Council to 
improve the Chamber in Faneuil Hall, the Selectmen usually .set in to do 
business, when they shall have occasion therefor until they can be better 
provided: and that the Honorable Josiah Willard, Esq' . Secretary be 
allowed to make use of the Office under the stairs in Faneuil Hall which 
hatli been inproved for the Naval Officer, until better provided, in' paying 
the same renl Mr. Overing agreed I'm-, to commence the 12 th . instant." 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. (»1 

journal is printed in the N".E Historical and Genea- 
logical Register for 1870, i>. 72) thus describes it 
in the autumn of 1750: — 

" They have also a Town House, built of Brick, situated in 
King's street. It's ,i very Grand Brick Building, Arch'd .-ill 
Round, and Two Storie Heigh, Sash'd above ; it-- Lower Pari is 
always Open, design'd as a Change, tho' the Merchants in Fair 
Weather make their Change in the open Street at the Easternmost 
End. In the upper Story are the Council and Assembly Cham- 
bers &C It has a neat Capulo, sash'd all round, and which on 
rejoycing days is Elluminated." '" 

Capt. Groelet mentions that on October 30th, 
His Majesty's Birth-day, he "went at neon with 
Capt. Wendell to the Councill Chamber in the 
Towne House, where [he] drank the Loyall Toasts 
with the Lieutenant Governor, Councill," etc. 

By the records of the House it appears thai 
Dec. 12, 1752, there was paid £6 13s. 4 d. to Moses 
Deshon "for the arms of the Colony which he has 
carved, and put up in the House of Representatives." 

By the bill of the painter in 177o, it seems that 
the Colony arms still remained, while the King's 
arms, also then paid for, were probably in the 
Council Chamber. The historic Codfish was also 



'• Jany 17, 1749-50 " voted that tho Engine under the care of Mr Thomas 
Reed be removed to the cellar under the Town House as soon as may l>e, 

and that Mr C ce be desired to get a Platform laid, and what else may 

be necessary to be dene for the same." imen's Records. 



62 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

mentioned, and various pictures, <>f which the only 
one named is that of Gov. Burnet. 

Very strangely, it appears by the "Boston Post 
Boy" of June 16th, 1766, that a gallery was put in 
the Representatives' Hall, though it is hard to imagine 
where space was found for it. 11 ' Chandeliers, of 
course, hung in each hall, and the desk of the Clerk 
or Speaker of the House is still preserved by the 
Massachusetts Historical Society. 20 

When the w T ork of the restoration was commenced 
last year, it was found that the framing of the 
timbers was such that there must have been a 
circular stairway in the place now occupied by it, 
from the first floor to the halls, and that the landings 
must have presented their present form. 

The same investigation showed that the Repre- 
sentatives' Hall had its easterly end curved, while 
the Council Chamber was square. These indications 
coincide with a description published in 1791, when 
the halls were occupied by the Legislature of the 

19 Hutchinson says I iii. L66), under date of 17*17. that tin' House " hail caused 
a gallery to be built and opened, that all persons inclined to it. might hear their 
debates; and a speech, well adapted to the gallery, was oftentimes of more 
service to the cause oi liberty than if its purposes had been confined to the 
members of the house." 

20 Although described as the speaker's desk, it seems almost impossible 
that it could have been SO used. The balusters in the new stairway are copied 
from those in Gov. Shirley's house, still standing in Roxbury. As he was the 
governor at the date nf the rebuilding, in 1747. no better exemplars could he 

desired. 




<,M ' State h °use .x 1791. (From the Massachusetts Magazine, 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE DEDICATION. 63 

State, and when, apparently, no changes had been 
made. The Massachusetts Magazim for A.ugust, 
1791, gives a south-west view of the building, i.e., 
one taken from the Washington-streel end. and the 
following description is added: — 

••Tin' State House is an elegant brick building, standing at the 
Lead of Stale Street, one mile ami 297 yards from the fortification. 
It is 110 feet in length and thirty-eight in breadth. The founda- 
tions of the present walls were laid A. 1). 1712, the former Stale 
House having been reduced t<> ashes in the greal lire of the pre- 
ceding year. The internal pail of this building again experienced 
the desolating flame in 1747. when a vast number of ancient books 
and early records, together with a collection of valuable papers, 
were destroyed, and to the ravages of this calamity we may attrib- 
ute the imperfect accounts that are to be obtained of the first and 
second building. The ascent to the lower tloor. as fronting the 
Long wharf, is by an elevated flight of large stone steps, railed 
round with neat iron balustrades. There are three other entrance- : 
one at the opposite end, facing to Cornhill, and the other two in 
the opposite centres of the length. The Clerks of the Supreme 
Judicial Court and Court of Common l'leas hold their offices 
upon the first floor, which also serves in bad weather as an 
exchange for the mercantile pari of the community. A ranee 
of Doric pillars support the Hoofs of the second story, winch is 
destined for the accommodation of the Genera] Legislature. The 
Senate Chamber is thirty-two feet square and fifteen feet in 
height, furnished with a convenient lobby for committee- to 
transacl business in. The Representatives' Chamber is fifty-seven 
and a half feet in length,*' thirtv-two in breadth, and the same 



21 This figure, fifty-seven and en,' half feet, is an impossibility, being more 
than one-half the length of the building. Bui thirty-seven ami one-half 



64 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

height as the former, with ;i well-constructed lobby. The third 
or upper story is improved by differenl committees during the 
session, and lias an East, Wesl and South lobby : beside several 
apartments for publick papers and records. On the centre of the 
roof is a tower, consisting of three stories, finished according to 
the Tuscan. Dorick and Ioniek orders complete, and from thence 
is a fine prospect of the Harbor and adjacent Country." 

The painter's bill 22 of 177o also mentions the Lion 
and the Unicorn which crowned the east end of 
the exterior, the carved corner-pieces on the west 
front, the balcony and pediment in front at the 
main window of the Council Chamber, and the 
steps, which, for a time, reached from the first 
floor down State street. 23 

These features have all been reproduced in the 
restored building. It was, indeed, a question whether 
or not to restore the royal arms upon the east end. 
but a feature so distinctive, architecturally, could not 
be well omitted. Happily, no one will to-day misun- 
derstand the feeling with which we replace this me- 

feet would reach exactly to the line of the curved end of the hall as shown 
on Rogers' plans and now reconstructed. Evidently the writer put his notes 
of the measurements in figures, and either he or his printer mistook thirty- 
seven and one-half for fifty-seven and one-half. The error really confirms 
the exactness of the record. 

•'-' This document is printed in Appendix K. 

23 These steps are in the picture painted in 1801, owned by the His- 
torical Society, but were removed before the view in 1821 was taken 
They are in the view of L785 also, and are mentioned in 1791. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 65 

mento of our colonial days, — a recognition merely of 
the fads of history, neither forgetful of the protec- 
tion which the mother country once extended, nor 
boastful of the change which has given us a national 
coat-of-arms, a national flag, and a supreme govern- 
ment, at least equal to those which we renounced ;i 
century ago. 24 

It is certain that prior to the fire in 1717, the town 
had ceased to regard the Town House as its partic- 
ular pride. In 1740 Peter Faneuil had offered to 
the town a building for a market and a Town Hall, 
and though it was accepted only by a vote of 367 
against 360, the work was accomplished. On the 
loth September, 1742, the first town-meeting was 
held there, and Faneuil Hall was solemnly so entitled. 
(S. G. Drake, Hist. Boston, p. (ill.) On October 
(5, 1742, "in conformity with a vote of the Town for 
removing the Town's Books and papers to Faneuil 
Hall, voted that the Town Clerk move said Books 
and papers belonging to the Town, forthwith, and 
that Mr. Savell provide Coal for the selectmen at 
their meeting there on Wednesday next.' 1 

The first meeting of the selectmen there was on 
October 13, 1742. From this time therefore Faneuil 



-' In delivering this address the words " royal arms" were used, and are 

therefore retained. Evidence will be found in Appendix I) in justify the 

opinion that the Lion ami Unicorn were the supporters t<> the Province 
coat-of-arms, and that they figured herein that capacity. 



66 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Hall became the Town Hall, and the building on 
State street became more especially the place for the 
Legislature and Courts. 

One other vote of the selectmen at this time may 
be reproduced as showing the dissatisfaction of the 
town: "May 16, 1744. In consideration of the 
difficult circumstances of the Province, especially of 
the Town of Boston, and the little advantage in 
cleaning the glass at the Town House, voted that 
that expense and charge be saved for the present 
year." 

A brief account of Faneuil Hall and its vicissi- 
tudes will be found in Appendix 111. 



Having thus considered the history of the walls of 
this building, let us review the scenes which took 
place therein. During the administration of Shirley 
(1741-1757), and of Pownall (1757-1760), the 
colony was undoubtedly loyal. The great expendi- 
tures made by England to carry out the favorite wish 
of the colonists, by the overthrow of the French 
power in America, had not only pleased lint enriched 
the sea-board colonies. Many of our citizens served 
with credit in the various armies which attacked 
Canada; many others had served in the navy or the 
transport service, and Boston especially had become 
accustomed to the presence of English troops and 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATIOX. f>7 

Crown officials. Shirley had identified himself with 

the colony, had built a house here and reared a 
family amid Bostonian surroundings. His ardor in 
military affairs led him to he less strenuous in smaller 
civil matters, and he had acquiesced in such encroach- 
ments by the Legislature as restrained the power of 
the Crown or the influence of the Governor. 

Pownall's short rule of three years was noteworthy 
mainly for its military record.- 5 

In August, 1700, Francis Bernard arrived here to 
succeed Pownall, and, live months later, news was 
received of the accession of George III. With the 
new King and the new Governor begins the closing- 
chapter of our colonial history. This is not the 
time to attempt to describe the causes which led to 
the Revolution, except in so far as any important 
events took place in this building. Here, under this 
roof, indeed, were encamped the hostile forces of the 
civil government. In this room the Royal Governor 



-John Adams says (Works, w. 241— i), " Pownall was a Whig, a friend 
of liberty, a lover of his country, and he considered North America a part 
of his country as much as England, Scotland, or Ireland." •■ Pownall, 
when he cainc into administration, thought there ought to he a good 
understanding between the capital 'and country, ami a harmony between 
both and the government. This conciliatory and comprehensive system 
was too refined and too sublime for human nature in this contentious, 
warring world." — " Pownall was the most constitutional and national 
Governor, in my opinion, who ever represented the crown in this province. 
He engaged in no intrigues, he favored no conspiracies againsl the liber- 
ties of America." 



68 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

and his generally subservient Council could listen to 
the applause which greeted the impassioned elo- 
quence of the popular leaders of the Representatives 
in the adjoining- hall, as they gradually developed the 
ideas of " ]S T o representation, no taxation," and " No 
representation, no legislation," as Hutchinson scorn- 
fully termed them. (Hist., hi., 16f. ) How often 
must these lobbies and entries have been thronged by 
the citizens of Boston, anxious to catch the latest in- 
telligence of royal obstinacy or of popular indigna- 
tion! In those days the press was so circumscribed 
in its province, that the news was only to be ob- 
tained by contact with the actors; and here was the 
centre of all that absorbed the attention of the com- 
munity. The town-meetings were held at Faneuil 
Hall, 26 and when more room was needed, they ad- 
journed to the Old South Church. Yet, powerful 
as was the influence of Boston, the citizens could 
only issue instructions to their representatives in the 
august body, which, in these halls, spoke in the 
name of the entire colony. It will be necessary to 
give a few instances of the occurrences in these 
apartments, from the evidence of the actors therein. 

**It is often forgotten that Faneuil Hall prior to A.D. 1808 was much 
smaller than it now Is. The addition of another story and an extension on 
the north side added greatly to the space. Of course these changes have 
not destroyed tin- identity of the building, but they arc much greater than 
those made in these Memorial Halls, where only one wall has been replaced 
in each room and in the same position. I < 'onsult, on this point, Appendix E. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 09 

On Wednesday, December 16, 17(51. there was a 
military funeral held here, fnlly described in the 
journals. It was in honor of Major-General Edward 
Whitmore,* Governor of Louisburg, who was 
drowned in Plymouth harbor on the preceding 
Friday. The procession marched from the Town 
House to the King's Chapel, escorted by the troop 
of Horse-Guards and the company of Cadets. The 
Governor and Lieutenant-Governor, the Council, 
Judges, Justices, and Ministers followed the corpse, 
and "Minute Guns were fired to the amount of 70, 
being the Number of Years of the General's Age." 
Edward Whitmore, Charles Lawrence, and James 
Wolfe were the brigadiers under Amherst at the 
capture of Louisburg, in 1758. Wolfe's division 
had the largest share of the lighting, but after the 
surrender Whitmore was left as Governor of the 
Fort. As such he had been in constant official 
communication with Boston for over two years, and 
at that date was doubtless better known here than 
the future hero of the capture of Quebec. 



* This General Edward Whitmore was Lieutenant-Colonel of 3Gtli Foot 
in 1747, and Colonel of 22d Foot, 11th of .Inly. 177.7. in which post lie was 
succeeded by Thomas Gage, afterwards our Governor. II' 1 left several 
children, the oldest being Edward Whitmore, who was Captain of Royal 
Artillery, loth of September, 1759, and died in 1804. I do not find any 
relationship between him ami Lieutenant-General William Whitmore, 
L760, Colonel of 9th Foot, L758-1771, whose family was of note in 
Shropshire. 



70 OLD STATE HOUSE UK-DEDICATION. 

In 1761, soon after Bernard's arrival, James Otis, 
Jr., aroused the public by his famous plea against 
the Writs of Assistance. John Adams has ad- 
mirably described the scene in this hall, in a letter 
written to a friend in 1817. (Life and Works, Vol. 
X., pp. 245-248.) 

"The scene is the Council chamber in the old Town House in 
Boston. The date is in the month of February, 1761, nine rears 
before yon entered my office in Cole lane. As this was five years 
before you entered college, you must have been in the second 
form of Master Lovell's school. 

"That Council chamber was as respectable an apartment as the 
House of Commons or the House of Lords in Great Britain, in 
proportion, or that in the State House in Philadelphia, in which 
the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. In this 
chamber, round a great fire, were seated live judges, with Lieu- 
tenant-Governor Hutchinson at their head as Chief Justice, all 
arrayed in their new, fresh, rich robes of scarlet English broad- 
cloth : in their large cambric hands and immense judicial wigs. 

1,1 In this chamber were seated at a long table all the barristers- 
at-law of Boston and of the neighboring county of Middlesex, 
in gowns, hands, and tie wigs. They were not seated on ivory 
chairs, but their dress was more solemn and more pompous than 
that of the Roman Senate, when the Gauls broke in upon them. 

" In the corner of the room must be placed as a spectator 
and an auditor, wit, sense, imagination, genius, pathos, reason, 
prudence, eloquence, learning ami immense reading, hanging 
by the shoulders on two crutches, covered with a great cloth 
coat, in the person of Mr. Pratt, who had been solicited on 
both --ides, luii would engage on neither, being, as Chief Justice 
of New York, about to leave Boston forever. Two portraits, 



OLD STATE HOUSE HE-DEDICATION. 71 

at more than full length, of King Charles the Second and of 
King James the Second, in splendid golden frames, were hung 
up on the most conspicuous sides of the apartment. If my youn« 
eyes or old memory have not deceived me, these were as fine j >ic-t- 
ures as I ever saw ; the colors of the royal ermines and louo - , 
flowing robes were the most glowing, the figures the most noble 
and graceful, the features the most distincl and characteristic, far 
superior to those of the king and queen of France in the Senate 
chamber of Congress — these were worthy of the pencils of 
Rubens and Vandyke. There was no painter in England capable 
of them at that time. They had heen sent over without frames in 
Governor Pownall's time, but he was no admirer of Charles or 
James. The pictures were stowed away in a garret, among 
rubbish, until Governor Bernard came, who had them cleaned, 
superbly framed, and placed in council for the admiration and 
imitation of all men — no doubt with the advice and concurrence 
of Hutchinson and all his nebula of stars and satellites. 

" One circumstance more. Samuel Quincy and John Adams had 
been admitted barristers at that term. John was the youngesl : 
he should be painted looking like a short, thick archbishop of 
Canterbury, seated at the table with a pen in his hand, lost in 
admiration, now and then minuting those poor notes which your 
pupil. Judge Minot, has printed in his history, with some interpo- 
lations." 

He then proceeds to describe the characters in the 
drama, and thus depicts the chief: — 

■• But Otis was a flame of fire. With a promptitude of classical 
allusions, a depth of research, a rapid summary of historical 
events and dates, a profusion of legal authorities, n prophetic 
glance of his eye into futurity, and a torrent of impetuous 
eloquence, he hurried away everything before him. American 



72 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

independence was then and there born; the seeds of patriots and 
heroes were then and there sown, to defend the vigorous youth, 
the non sine Diis animosus infans. Every man of a crowded 
audience appeared to me to go away, as I did, ready to take 
arms against writs of assistance. Then and there was the first 
scene of the first acl of opposition to the arbitrary claims of Great 
Britain. Then and there the child Independence was born." 

The immediate result was a modification of the 
form of the writs; but the greater consequence was 
the prominence of Otis, and the attention called to 
the oppressive character of the English revenue laws 
when applied to this country. 

A lull succeeded in the political atmosphere for 
the next two years, and the news of the peace with 
France, received here in May, 1763, w r as joyfully 
welcomed. Soon, however, the clouds gathered, 
indicative of the coming storm. The vast expense 
of the war rendered new taxes inevitable; unfor- 
tunately, the consideration of the renewal of a tax 
which had just expired, — one on the importation 
of molasses into the colonies. — led the Grenville 
ministry to determine "to raise by a stamp duty, 
or in some other way, a sum from America, sufficient 
to ease government in part from the future charges 
which might be necessary there." (Hutchinson, hi., 
109.) 

In April, 1765, news was received of the passage 
of the act. and popular opposition was at once 



OLD STATE 11" >USE RE DI.DK IATIOX. 7)5 

excited. On the birthday of the Prince of Wales, 
August 12, it was concerted to hang the appointed 
distributor of stamps in effigy. This was done two 
days later, the image being suspended from the 
Liberty Tree, which stood on the corner of Essex 
and Washington streets. The Council was hastily 
assembled, but prudently advised that nothing be 
done, hoping that the matter would end there. 

•• Before night the image was taken down, and carried through 
the Town House, in the chamber whereof the Governor and 
Council were sitting. Forty or fifty tradesmen, decently dressed, 
preceded ; and some thousands of the mob followed down King 
street to Oliver's dock, near which Mr. Oliver had lately erected 
a building, which, it was conjectured, he designed for a stamp 
office. This was laid flat to the ground in a few minutes. From 
thence the mob proceeded for Fort Hill, but Mr. Oliver's house 
being in the way. they endeavored to force themselves into it. and 
being opposed, broke the windows, heat down the doors, entered, 
and destroyed part of his furniture, and continued in riot until 
midnight before they separated." (Hutchinson, hi.. 121.) 

On the evening of August 26 a mob collected in 
King: street, "drawn there by a bonfire, and well 
supplied with strong drink." They plundered the 
cellars of the comptroller of customs, and then 
marched to the house of Thomas Hutchinson, in Gar- 
den court, near Fleet street, where, all night long, 
undisturbed by the frightened neighborhood, the work 
of destruction went on. These inexcusable outrages 
were promptly disavowed in town-meeting, and mosl 



74 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

probably were the work of those turbulent and law- 
less men who ahvavs appear whenever authority is 
suspended, to dishonor and injure the cause they 
nominally support. 

When the Legislature met, on October 24, 1765, 
Boston was represented by a new member, — Samuel 
Adams, — then first the recipient of high office, but 
already a leader among the advocates of independ- 
ence. Otis was in New York, attending a conven- 
tion of delegates from the various colonies, which 
had been convoked by royal authority. The differ- 
ence in the political views of these leaders was 
marked, though it did not prevent their unison in 
many points. Otis believed that Parliament was su- 
preme, but that the Colonies were entitled to repre- 
sentation therein. Adams "professed principles, 
which h<' owned without reserve in private discourse, 
to be independency: and, from time to time, lie made 
advances towards it in publick, as far as would serve 
the great purpose of attaining to it. To his influence 
may he attributed the great advance made in this 
session." (Hutchinson, in., 134.) On the 29th of 
October, in the adjoining hall, the House passed the 
famous Resolves, prepared by Samuel Adams, one of 
which declares, "That all acts made by any power 
whatever, other than the General A-Ssemblj of this 
Province, imposing taxes on the inhabitants, are 
infringements of our inherent and unalienable rights 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 7o 

as men and British subjects, and render void the 
most valuable declarations of our charter." 

To be sure, this was coupled with a declaration of 
loyalty to the Crown and to Parliament : but the first 
resolve contained a political truth, and the last a 
politic profession. 

On May 16, 1766, the news of the repeal of the 
Stamp Aet was received here, and caused universal 
rejoicing. In September the Rockingham-Shelburne 
ministry came into power, and was believed to he 
friendly to the Colonies. The Governor here had 
several disputes with the Legislature, the Council 
displayed unusual independence, and the influence of 
Adams, now promoted to the office of Clerk of the 
House,- 7 was steadily on the increase. The same state 
of affairs characterized the whole of the following 
year, 1767, until, in the autumn, news was received 
of the passage of an act levying "small duties on 
paper, glass, and painters' colors, imported into 
America; to take off 12d., which had been charged 
in England on every pound of tea exported, and to 
lay 3d. only, payable upon its importation into 
America/' (Hutchinson, hi., 179.) Commissioners 
were appointed to enforce the customs' laws, and an 



27 "The office having some emolument, it had generally been filled by one 
of the members, win. i<i<ik the same share in debating and voting as if 
he had nol been clerk, ami rather acquired than Losl influence by being so." 
( Hutchinson, iii.. 1 18. I 



76 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

act was passed legalizing the writs of assistance, 
under which search was made for smuggled goods. 

In February, 1768, the House passed a bill order- 
ing letters to be written to the other colonies, "with 
respect to the importance of joining with them in 
petitioning His Majesty at this time." This was 
Adams' measure, — a potent weapon in the coming 
conflict. Another resolve was, "that this House will, 
by all prudent means, endeavor to discountenance 
the use of foreign superfluities, and to encourage the 
manufactures of this Province." 

The English government demanded the rescinding 
the vote authorizing the Circular Letter, but the 
House, by a vote of 92 to 17, refused obedience. 
:? The galleries were cleared, and all communication 
with the other Board or from the outside, was shut 
off during the debate." (Life of S. Adams, i., in.) 
Even a committee of the Council, with certain reso- 
lutions of that branch, was refused admittance. 

The House was prorogued the same day, and 
dissolved the next day, but not till it had passed an 
address to the king, asking for the removal of Gov- 
ernor Bernard. 

An ill-advised measure at this time added to the 
popular discontent. Owing to Bernard's representa- 
tions, it had been decided that one or two regiments 
should be sent from Halifax to Boston. On hearing 
of the riots here, the government in England ordered 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE DEDICATION. 77 

two more regiments from Ireland. The news of the 
first order was received in Boston aboul the begin- 
ning of September, 1768, and. as the Legislature was 
not expected to meet for a year, the town-meeting of 
Boston took action. On learning from the Governor 
that the troops were soon to arrive, — one regiment 
for the Castle and two for the town. — the meeting 
voted to hold a convention on September '2'2, of 
delegates from all the other towns, " in order that 
such measures may be concerted and advised, as IIi> 
Majesty's service and the peace and safety of his 
subjects in the province may require." As Hutchin- 
son says (Hist., in., 205), " It must be allowed by all, 
that the proceedings of this meeting had a greater 
tendency towards a revolution in government than 
any preceding measures in any of the colonies. The 
inhabitants of one town alone took upon them to 
convene an assembly from all the towns, that, in 
everything but in name, would be a House of Repre- 
sentatives." A most just comment: and let us 
to-day be proud of the fact that the town thus 
assuming" the lead was Boston. Although the result 
of the meeting, which was duly held at Fancuil Hall, 
was not as tangible as was hoped, it showed the 
colonists how to proceed towards a rebellion whilst 
preserving the form- of law. The convention ad- 
journed September 29, the day after the fleet and 
soldiers reached N"antasket. The troops, amounting 



78 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

to one thousand men, under Lieutenant-Colonel Dal- 
rymple, landed without opposition. One regiment 
pitched their tents on the Common; the others 
were marched to Faneuil Hall, and, after some dis- 
pute, were sheltered there for one night. "The next 
day, Gov. Bernard ordered the doors of the Town 
House to be opened, except that of the Council 
Chamber; and such part were lodged there as Fan- 
euil Hall rooms would not accommodate. The Rep- 
resentatives' room was filled, in common with the 
rest."" (Hutchinson, in., 212.) 

Gen. Gage was summoned from Xew York, and 
the Council attempted to find a way to satisfy both 
sides. The result was that houses were hired for the 
troops, but in the immediate vicinity of the Town 
House. The quartering of troops at this spot was 
felt keenly by the province. The next town-meeting 
demanded of Gen. Maekay, then in command, the 
removal of the troops on election day. He replied 
that he could not do this, but would confine them to 
their barracks. When the Legislature met, in May, 
17(39, its first work, after organizing, was to resolve 
that, "an armanent by sea and land investing the 
metropolis, and a military guard, with cannon pointed 
at thai very door of the State House, where this As- 
sembly is held, is inconsistent with that dignity, as 
well as that freedom, with which we have a right to 
deliberate, consult, and determine." They added 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 7<) 

that they expected the Governor to order the removal 
of these forces during the session of the Assembly. 
As they refused to transact business while the troops 
remained, and as the Governor would not consent, he 
adjourned the Legislature to Cambridge. Finally, 
two regiments were sent back to Halifax, the 1 1th 
and 29th remaining here. 

Another deeply exciting trial at this time inten- 
sified the popular indignation. 

April 2'2< 1769, a press-gang from the "Hose" 
frigate, under Lieut. Panton, boarded a ship owned 
by Mr. Hooper, of Marblehead, on her return from 
Bilboa. Michael Corbet and three others resisted. 
and the officer, Panton, was shot. Hence a trial in 
July, by a special Court of Admiralty, of these four 
sailors on a charge of piracy and murder. John 
Adams (Works, X., 205-207) says, that at the open- 
ing of the trial, on the presentation of the prisoners' 
pleas, Hutchinson moved "that the Court should 
adjourn to the Council Chamber." f The prisoners 
were remanded; parties, witnesses, counsel, audience, 
dismissed: and the Court adjourned to the Council 
Chamber, where they remained in secret conclave 
till late in the evening.'* 

"The Court met again early next morning, in 
secret conclave in the Council Chamber." The plea 
of the defence was. that the act was justifiable homi- 
cide, and this was the decision of the Court. 



80 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Adams adds, "One circumstance is too charac- 
teristic to be omitted. The counsel for the prisoners, 
descending from the chamber where the Court sat, to 
the lower floor of the Court House, was met at the 
bottom of the stairs by the boatswain of the f Rose.' 
r Sir,' said he, r we are all greatly obliged to you 
for your noble conduct in defence of these brave 
fellows; yet, sir, this is the employment in which 
T have been almost constantly engaged for twenty 
years, fighting with honest men to deprive them of 
their liberty. I always thought T ought to be 
hanged for it, and now I know it.' 1 

Bernard was recalled, and sailed on July 31, 
1769, amid demonstrations of popular joy. By 
his departure the duties devolved upon Thomas 
Hutchinson, the lieutenant-governor, a native of 
Boston, a man of fortune and eminent abilities, 
hut already distasteful to his fellow-citizens as the 
ablest defender of the royalist views in the colony. 
He came to the command in times which were daily 
becoming more turbulent, and, having persistently 
taken tin- part of the Crown, he has justly forfeited 
all claims to the respect of tin- descendants of the 
rebels. 

During the autumn of 1769 the hitter feeling 
between the colonists and the loyalists rapidlj 
increased. James Otis was dangerously wounded 
in an affray with a Crown officer in the British 



ul. I) STATE HOUSE liE-DEDICATIOX. 81 

Coffee House, which stood <>n State street, at the 
present No. 66. It is probable thai the violence 
he then received completed the overthrow of his 
intellect, and, thenceforward, lie ceased to lead in 
public affairs. On the 22d of February, 177<>. a 
local riot led to the shooting, by one Richardson, 
of a boy named Christopher Snyder, the first vic- 
tim to the evil passions excited by the state oi 
a Hairs. 

The merchants of the town had been nearly 
unanimous in giving effect to the popular wish to 
prevent the importation of English goods, although 
the taxes had been taken off of all imports except 
tea. Early in 1770, however, a new turn was given 
to popular thought, by what is known as the State- 
street Massacre. From these windows we overlook 
the scene of this famous event, hut it has been too 
often described to need more than the briefest 
reference. A fight between the soldiers and the 
workmen at (Cray's ropewalk, on March 2, 1770, 
had raised a resentment in the minds of the troops, 
which led to i'atal results. On Monday evening, 
March 5th, the soldiers began to show signs of 
insubordination. In and around their barracks, in 
Dock square, they assailed the passers-b} with 
threats and blow-. The hoy- of the town rang 
the hell in the First Church, and the citizens began 
to throng towards the 'Town House. A lar 



82 OLD STATE HOUSE UK-DEDICATION. 

crowd gathered in Dock square, for, in those days, 
a few minutes' walk would bring- every householder 
to the centre of the town. Here a leader, pre- 
sumably William Molineaux, advised the people to 
disperse — a counsel followed by part, while others 
started for State street. The Custom House stood 
at the corner of State and Exchange streets, and 
there a sentinel was posted. A crowd of boys 
assaulted him with snowballs, until a messenger 
was sent hastily to the guard-house near by. Some 
seven or eight men, under ('apt. Preston, at once 
rushed to the relief of the guard, loaded quickly, 
and stood at bay. The mob pressed upon them, 
striking their muskets, and otherwise insulting 
them, being evidently of the belief that the soldiers 
woidd not fire. The order was given to present 
arms, and then to lire, though it was never dis- 
covered who gave the fatal word. A rambling fire 
by the guard, at these close quarters, killed three 
persons and wounded eight others. 

At once the partisans of each side rushed to the 
spot. The soldiers were drawn up in order of 
battle, but remained under the control of their 
officers. The bells of the churches aroused the 
alarmed inhabitants, who thronged the street to 
gaze upon the blood-stained snow, which testified 
to the awful tragedy. A few hastened to summon 
Grov. Hutchinson, who, "to satisfy the people, called 




rP • ft! 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 83 

for Captain Preston, and inquired why he fired 
upon the inhabitants without the direction of a 
civil magistrate. The noise was so great thai his 
answer could not be understood, and some, who 
were apprehensive of the lieutenant-governor's dan- 
ger from the general confusion, called out, ' The 
Town House! the Town House!' and. with irre- 
sistible violence, he was forced up by the crowd 
into the Council Chamber. There, demand was 
immediately made of him to order the troops to 
withdraw from the Town House to their barracks, 
lie refused to comply, and, calling from the bal- 
cony, to the great body of people which remained 
in the street, he expressed his great concern at the 
unhappy event, assured them he would do every- 
thing in his power in order to a full and impartial 
inquiry, that the law might have its course, and 
advised them to go peaceably to their several 
homes. Upon this there was a cry, "Home! home!' 
and a great part separated and went home." — 
( I [utchinson, iii., 273. ) 

Captain Preston and the soldiers implicated sur- 
rendered themselves before morning, and were com- 
mitted to prison. This was not sufficient to satisfy 
the people; and a town-meeting was held in Paneuil 
Hall. 'I'hc select men had already waited upon 
Hutchinson, in this chamber, to demand the removal 
of the troops from the town. lie repeated that he 



84: < > I > I > STATE HOUSE RE-PEDICATION. 

had not the power, but summoned Colonels Dal- 
rymple and Garr to confer with the Council. 

When the select men reached the meeting Samuel 
Adams addressed it. A committee of fifteen, headed 
by Adams, proceeded to the Council Chamber to 
repeat the demand for the removal of the troops. 
The committee presented its message and withdrew 
into another room to wait for an answer. Dalrymple 
consented to withdraw the 29th Regiment to the 
Castle, and the Council adjourned till the afternoon, 
in hopes that the concession would prove enough. 

At three o'clock the town-meeting reassembled, 
but adjourned to the Old South Church to accommo- 
date the increasing crowds. T The committee, led 
by Samuel Adams, his head bared in reverence to 
the occasion, and his gray locks flowing in the wind, 
issued from the Council Chamber." Through a 
crowd reaching to the church the committee silently 
passed, and, in the presence of three thousand eager 
listeners, the proposal of the royal Governor was 
announced. It was at once voted to be insufficient, 
and a new committee, with the same leader, was 
appointed to make a final demand. 

John Adams (Life and Works, Vol. X., p. 249) 
has eloquently described the scene in the following 
words: — 

•• Now for the picture. The theatre and the scenery are the 
same with those at the discussion <>f writs of assistance. 'Hie 




SAMl'EL VDAMS. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. S."i 

same glorious portraits of King Charles II. ami King James II., 
to which mighl be added, and should he added, little miser; 
likenesses of Governor Winthrop, Governor Bradstreet, Goveruoi 
Endicott, and ( rovernor Belcher, hung up in obscure corners of the 
room. Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson, Commander-in-Chief in 
the absence of the Governor, musl be placed a( the head of the 
council table. Lieutenant-Colonel Dalrymple, Commander-in-Chief 
of His Majesl y's military forces, taking rank of all Hi> Majesty's 
counsellors, musl be seated by the side of the Lieutenant-Governor 
and Commander-in-Chief of the province. Eighl and twent} 
counsellors must be painted, all seated al the council board. Lei 
me sec — what costume? What was the fashion of thai da\ in the 
month of March? Large white wigs, English scarlet cloth cloaks, 
some of them with gold-laced hats, not on their heads, indeed, in so 
augusl a presence, but on the table before them, or under the table 
beneath them. Before these illustrious personages appeared 
Samuel Adams, a member of the [louse of Representatives, and 
their clerk, now at the head of the committee of the great 
assembly at the Old South Church. 

"Such was the situation of affairs when Samuel Adam- was 
reasoning with Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson and Lieutenant- 
Colonel Dalrymple. He had fairly driven them from all their out- 
works, breastworks, and intrenchments to their citadel. There 
they paused and considered and deliberated. The heads of 
Hutchinson and Dalrymple were laid together in whispers for a 
Long time; when the whispering ceased, a long and solemn pause 
ensued, extremely painful to an impatient, expecting audience. 
Hutchinson, in time, broke silence: he had consulted with 
Colonel Dalrymple, and the Colonel had authorized him to say 
thai he mighl order one regiment down to the Castle, if thai would 
satisfy the people With a self-recollection, a self-possession, a 
self-command, a presence of mind thai was admired by every man 
present, Samuel A.dams arose with an air of dignity and majesty 



86 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

of which he was sometimes capable, stretched forth his arm, 
though even then quivering with palsy, and with an harmonious 
voice and decisive tone said, • It the Lieutenant-Governor or 
Colonel Dalrymple, or both together, have authority to remove 
one regiment, they have authority to remove two, and nothing 
short of the total evacuation of the 'own by all the regular troops 
will satisfy the public mind or preserve the peace of the province. 
"These few words thrilled the veins of every man in the 
audience, and produced the great result. After a little awkward 
hesitation it was agreed that the town should be evacuated and 
both regiments sent to the Castle.' 

Hutchinson's own account of the affair agrees 
substantially with this, though throwing the respon- 
sibility upon Col. Dalrymple. On March 10 and 
11 the two regiments were removed to the Castle. 



Surely such an event as this must render this hall 
forever memorable. Whatever else had been done, 
at other times and places, here was taken the first 
open step toward successful rebellion. A govern- 
ment which removes its military force from a fort, 
a town, or a province, at the demand of its subjects, 
can hope to regain its ascendancy in the future only 
by the display of an irresistible armament in the 
>aiiic place. Hutchinson, who well understood the 
position, wrote to a friend, in March, 1770: rr The 
body of the people are all of a mind, and there is 



OLD STATE HOUSE UK DEDICATION S, 

no stemming the torrent. Ii is the common lan- 
guage <>C Adams and the rest, thai they arc nol 
to be intimidated by a< is of Parliament, for they 
will not be executed here. . . . We are most 
certainly every day confirming ourselves in our 

principles of independence; and tells me he 

is fully convinced that nothing but sharp external 
force will bring Boston into a state of due subordi- 
nation." (Life of S. A.dams, i., 335.) 

The Legislature was convened in March, 1770, 
at Cambridge, despite their protest that the writs 
specified that the meeting was "to beheld at the 
Town House in Boston." Samuel Adams. John 
Adams, John Hancock, and Joseph Ilawlev. were 
tile leaders in the House, ably assisted by dames 
Bowdoin in the Council. 

In October the trial of ('apt. Preston and his 
soldiers was held in this hall, John Admits and 
Josiah Quincy, dr.. acting as their counsel, and 
Preston was Cully acquitted. Two of the soldiers 
were convicted of manslaughter. 

"The trials were far from satisfactory to the prose- 
cutors; and, in a short time, a great |>art <>f the 
people were induced to believe the acquittals unjust 
and contrary to evidence; and the killing of the men 
was declared to be a horrid massacre, with the same 
freedom a- if the jury had found those concerned in 
il guilts of murder. A lew days alter the trial. 



88 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

while the Court continued to .sit, an incendiary paper 
was posted up, in the night, upon the door of the 
Town House, complaining- of the Court for cheating 
the injured people with a show of justice, and calling 
upon them to rise and free the world from such 
domestick tyrants." (Hutchinson, iii.. 330.) 

The removal of the train-band from the Castle 
and its delivery to the royal forces, was another 
ground of offence to the colonists. 

In March, 1771, Hutchinson's commission as 
Governor arrived, and he met the Legislature at 
( Cambridge as before. In the preceding year he had 
vetoed the election of eleven of his Council, as they 
were of the popular side. In this year he accepted 
them all, except John Hancock and Jerathmeel 
Bowers. The reported disagreement between Han- 
cock and Adams, and the fact that the latter was 
opposed in his election in May, 1772, by two hundred 
and eighteen votes in seven hundred and twenty- 
three at the Boston meeting, probably influenced the 
Governor to allow the Legislature, in 1772, to return 
to its old apartments in this building. 

As I confine myself to what was done here, I pass 
over the various events which tended to hasten the 
final rupture. But it was in the adjoining hall, after 
ordering the galleries to be cleared, that Samuel 
Adams produced those confidential letters of Hutch- 
inson to his English friends, which convinced the 




C\f C~c^^ -*rx<0~7 £ {ML*?*' 



OLD STATE HOUSE KE DEDICATION. 

public thai there was no safety for any of the 
opponents of the government. 

In 177o it became known that the experiment was 
to be made of shipping tea t<> this country and of 
collecting the duty upon it. 

On November 28, 177o. the tea arrived, and, as 
Hutchinson bitterly remarks, "while the Governor 
and Council were sitting on the Monday in the Coun- 
cil Chamber, and known to be consulting upon means 
for preserving the peace of the town, several thou- 
sands, inhabitants of Boston and other towns, were 
assembled in a publick meeting-house, at a small 
distance, in direct opposition and defiance." We all 
know the result: that, after exhausting all peaceable 
mean- for the return of the '"detested herb," a body 
of patriots, illegally bul rightly, took the responsi- 
bility of consigning three hundred and forty-two 
chests of tea to the waves of Boston Harbor. "This 
was the boldest stroke which had yet been struck in 
America. . . . Their leaders feared no consequences. 
. . . They had gone too far to recede. If the colo- 
nies were subject to the supreme authority and laws 
of Great Britain, their offences long since had been 
of the highest nature. . . . And it is certain that. 
ever after this time, an opinion was easily instilled, 
and was constantly increasing, that the body of the 
people had also gone too far to recede, and thai an 
open and general revolt must he the consequence; 



90 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

and it was not long before actual preparations were 
visibly making for it in most parts of the province." 
(Hutchinson, iii., 439.) 

Of course this proceeding could not be ignored by 
Parliament, and, in March, 1774, the Boston Port 
Bill, closing the port during - the pleasure of the King, 
was passed, with other acts taking all the power 
from the people or their representatives, and giving 
it to the Crown. Persons accused of rioting could 
be sent to England for trial, and special orders were 
eriven for the arrest of Samuel Adams and other 
leader-. 

On May 17, 1774, Thomas Gage, the commander- 
in-chief of all the troops in this country, arrived in 
Boston, commissioned as Governor of the province. 
Landing at Long Wharf, he was escorted up State 
street by the Boston Cadets, under the command of 
Hancock. In this hall he was duly sworn into office, 
and' from the balcony the usual proclamation was made. 

The last session of the Legislature held under the 
royal government was at Salem, on June 7, 1771. It 
was dissolved on the 17th, after it had provided for 
the appointment of James Bowdoin, Thomas Crush- 
ing, Samuel Adams, John Adam-, and Robert Treat 
Paine, as delegates to the Congress to he held at 
Philadelphia. Thenceforward the old government 
was extinct. In the following year a Provincial 
Congress, elected by the people, assembled at Water- 



OLD SIATI': HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 91 

town, to exercise powers acknowledged by all the 
citizens of the new Slate. In Boston, the royal Gov 
ernor, with his select hoard of thirty counsellors, 
appointed by himself, kept up for a while the farce 
<»f civic government. The true authority was in his 
hands as commanding the troops, and his official 
residence was at the Province House, opposite the 
head of Milk street. 

Hardly anything is on record in regard to the 
Town House during the siege. Ii is stated that it 
was used as a barracks; certainly, alter the evacua- 
tion of the town, no complaint A\a> made of any 
injury done to it by the troops. 28 On the lihh of 
April, 1775, the battle of Lexington was fought; on 
the 17th of June following, the battle of Bunker Hill. 
On the 10th October, 177o. Gage was recalled to 
England, and. during his absence. Gen. Howe com- 



M As an evideni f the demoralization during the last few .lav- of 

British rule, when private houses were openly robbed by Crean and his 
Tory associates, we find that on March 11. L776, Gen. Howe issued the 
following proclamation ■ — 

"The commander-in-chief, finding, notwithstanding former orders thai 
have been given to forbid plundering, houses have been forced open and 

robbed, he is therefore under a necessity of declaring to the tr »s thai 

the first soldier who is caught plundering will he hanged on the spot. 

••The commander-in-chief, having been informed that depredations have 
been committed in the Tow,, House, offers the following rewards to any 
person or persons who -hall convict any person or persons of cutting 
and defacing the King's and Queen's picture, a,,! destroy ing .he records and 
„,her public paper-, viz.: For .he King's picture, £50; .or .he Qu 
picture, £50; for other pictures, records, and public papers, £20." 



92 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

manded on the sea-hoard, and Gen. Garleton in 
Canada. On the 17th of March, 1776, the British 
troops evacuated the town ; and, on the 20th, the 
main body of the American army marched in. 

On the 29th of March, the citizens of Boston 
held a regular meeting- for the election of town 
officers, in the Old Brick Church, Faneuil Hall 
having been fitted up as a theatre by the British 
officers. 

On the 18th of July, 1776, the Declaration of 
Independence "was made public, with great parade 
and exultation, from the balcony on the east end/" 

29 " Thursday last, pursuant to the order of the Honorable Council, was 
proclaimed from the balcony of the State House in this town the Declara- 
tion of the American Congress, absolving the United Colonies from their 
allegiance to the British crown, and declaring them free and independent 
States. There were present on the occasion in the council chamber a 
committee of council, a number of the Honorable House of Representatives, 
the magistrates, selectmen, and other gentlemen of Boston and the neigh- 
boring towns, also the commission officers of the Continental regiments 
stationed here, and other officers. Two of these regiments were under 
arms in King street, formed into three lines on the north side of the street 
and in thirteen divisions, and a detachment from the .Massachusetts regi- 
ment of artillery, with two pieces of cannon, was on their righi wing. 
At one o'clock the Declaration was proclaimed by Colonel Thomas Crafts, 
which was received with great joy, expressed by three huzzas from a 
great concourse of people assembled on the occasion. After which, on 
a signal given, thirteen pieces of cannon were tired from the fort on Fort- 
hill; the forts at Dorchester Neck, the Castle, Nantasket, and Point Alder- 
ton likewise discharged their cannon. Then the detachment of artillery 
tired their cannon thirteen times, which was followed by the two regiments 
giving their fire from the thirteen divisions in succession. These firings 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION i)l) 

The Stale government, which consisted of the 
Legislature without a Governor, still remained at 
Watertown. The session for 177(5 begun May _!!>, 
and continued, by one prorogation and one adjourn- 
ment, until the 12th of* November, when it was 
transferred to Boston. The "Boston Gazette," of 
November 1. announces its own removal from 
Watertown to the printing-office opposite the Court 
House, in Queen street, and in its next issue, 
Monday, November 11, states, "Saturday last, the 
General Assembly of this State adjourn'd from 
Watertown, to meet at the State House in this 
Town. Tomorrow, at Ten o'clock." 

On November 16, 1770, seventeen Councillors 



corresponded to the number of the American States united. The ceremonj 
was closed with a proper collation to the gentlemen in the council chamber; 
during which the following toasts were given by the president <>i' the council, 
and heartily pledged by the company, viz. : — 

•• ■ Prosperity and perpetuity to the United States <>t' America.' 
" • The American < Congress.' 

•• 'General Washington, and success to the arms of the I ' nited States.' 
" 'The downfall of tyrants and tyranny.' 
'< 'The universal prevalence of civil and religious liberty.' 
■• • The friends of the United States in all quarters of the globe.' 
• ; The bells in town were rung on the occasion ; and undissembled festivity 
cheered and brightened ever} face. 

"On the same evening, the King's Arm-, and every sign with any resem- 
blance of it, whether Linn and Crown, Pestle and Mortar and Crown, 
Heart and Crown, etc., together with ever^ sign that belonged to a Tory, 
were taken down, and the latter made a general conflagration of in King 
Veto England Chroniclt for July 25, 1776* 



94 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

signed a proclamation, "given at the Council Cham- 
ber in Boston," for a Thanksgiving to be observed 
on December 12 following. 

The various State officials also returned to this 
building, which continued in use as the State 
House, for nearly twenty years. In 1780 the State 
Constitution was adopted, and John Hancock, the 
first Governor of the State, was installed here, to 
the great delight of his fellow-townsmen. James 
Bowdoin, Samuel Adams, and Increase Sumner, 
succeeded Hancock, and presided in this chamber. 

In 1782 a great reception was given in the 
Council Chamber to the French fleet and army, 
then returning to Europe. 

On the 23d of April, 1783, the Proclamation of 
Peace was received here, " and the sheriff of the 
County of Suffolk, Joseph Henderson, Esq., an- 
nounced the same from the balcony of the State 
House, at one o'clock, before which a large con- 
course of the most respectable inhabitants of the 
town were assembled, who demonstrated by three 
loud huzzas, their joy upon this occasion. After 
which, thirteen cannon, Prom the fortresses at the 
Castle, and the same number at Fort Hill, were 
fired." 

In 1785 the view of the Old State House here 
annexed was used on the title-page of the "Boston 
Magazine." It is interesting as showing that the 




-I \.M KS BOWDOIN. 



OLD si \ : ' 3E RE DEDK \ I ,■ >K 

Province Anns, or their supporters, had disap- 
peared from the eastern front, bill that the scrolls 
had not been substituted; and thai the steps were 
then in place. It also shows that at that date 
this building was regarded as a peculiarly Bos- 
tonian structure, and therefore figured on the front 
page of a Boston book. 

In October, L789, Washington visited Boston, 
and reviewed the procession in his honor from a 
balcony erected from the centre window of the 
Representatives' Hall. 

Of course Washington had seen the State House 
in 1776, when he entered the town with his victo- 
rious troops; but, on this occasion, the buildingwas 
the centre of the pageant in his honor. We copy 
from the "Massachusetts Magazine" for January, 
1790, a view therein engraved, and the following 
" Description of the Triumphal Arch and Colonnade. 
erected at Boston, in honour of the President of the 
United States, October 24, 1789. — The Triumphal 
Arch (designed by Mr. C. Bulfinch) was L8 feet 
high, composed of a centre arch 14 feet wide, and 
one on each side, of 7 feet, with an Ionick pilaster and 
proper imposts between them. The frieze exhibited 
lo stars on a blue ground, and a handsome while 
delitulo cornice was carried to the height of the 
platform; above was painted a balustrade of inter- 
laced work, in the centre of which was an oval tablet, 



96 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

with the following inscriptions: on one wide, * To 
the Man who unites all Hearts? and on the other, 
r To Columbia** favourite Son.' At the end 
adjoining the State House was a panel decorated 
with a Trophy, composed of the arms of the United 
States, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and 
of our French Allies, crowned with a laurel wreath; 
over these an inscription, ' Boston relieved, March 
17, 1776,' — as a proof of a grateful remembrance 
of the service rendered the town by the illustrious 
President in his military character. Over the centre 
arch, a rich canopy, of 20 feet in height, was erected, 
with the American Eagle perched above. 

"The Colonnade (designed by Hon. Mr. Dawes) 
was creeled at the west end of the State House, 
adjacent to the Arch. It was composed of six large 
columns, 15 feet high, and a balustrade hung in 
front with Persian carpets, on which were wrought 
13 roses. The circle of the Colonnade measured 
44 feet, and projected boldly into the main street, so 
as to exhibit in a strong light f The man of the 
people? The central west window of the State 
House was the door through which the President 
passed to the balustrade, descending from a plat- 
form four easy steps, to the tloor of the gallery, 
which was furnished with arm-chairs, and spread 
with rich Carpets. On this platform was a pedestal 
covered with green, supporting the figure of Plenty, 



Procession. 



Boston, Oct. 19,' 1789. 

AS this town is shortly to be honoured with a visit from the PRESIDENT of the United States: 
In order that we may pay <our respects to him, in a manner whereby every inhabitant may see so 
illustrious and amiable a character, and to prevent the disorder and danger which must ensue from 
a great assembly of people without order, a Committee appointed by a respectable number of in- 
habitants, met for the purpose, recommend to their Fellow-Citizens to arrange themselves in the following or- 
der, in a 



PRO 






JO 



M 

s 



It is also recommended, that the person who shall be chosen as head of each order of Artizans, Trades- 
men, Manufacturers, Sec. shall be known by displaying a WHITE FLAG, with some device thereon expres- 
sive of their several callings, and to be numbered as in the arrangement that follows, which is alphabetically dis- 
posed, in order to give general satisfaction. — The Artizans, &c. to display such insignia of their craft, as they 
can conveniently carry in their hands. That uniformity may not be wanting, it is desired that the several 
Flag-staffs be SEVEN feet long, and the Flags a yard square. 

OKDER OF PROCESSION 



MUBICK. 
The Selectmen, 
Overseers of the Pour. 
Town Treasurer, 
Town Clerk. 
Magistrates, 

Consuls of France and Holland, 

The Officers of his Most-Christian Majesty's Squadron, 
Tbe Rev. Clergy, 
Physicians, 
Lawyers, 

Merchants and Traders, 
Marine Society, 
Masters of Vessels, 
Revenue Officers, 

Strangers, who may wish to attend. 
Bakers, .... 

Blacksmiths, &c. 

Block-makers," .... 
Boat-builders, ... 

Cabinet and Chair-makers, 
Card-makers, 
Carvers, - 

Chaise and Coach-makers, 
Clock and Watch-makers, 
Coopers. .... 

Coppersmiths, Braziers and rounder?, 
Cordwainers, &c. 
Distillers, - 

Duck Manufacturers, 
Engravers, 
Glaziers and Plumbers, 



No. 


1. 


No. 


2. 


No'. 


3. 


No. 


4. 


No. 


5. 


No. 


G. 


No. 


7. 


No. 


8. 


No. 


9. 


No. 


10. 


No. 


11. 


No. 


12. 


No. 


13. 


No. 


14. 


No. 


15. 



Goldsmiths and Jewellers, 
Hair-Dressers, 
Hatters and Furriers, 
House Carpenters, 

Leather Dressers, and Leather Breeches ) 
Maker?, - - . \ 

Limners, and Portrait Painters. 
Masons, % 

Mast-makers, - 

Mathematical Instrument-makers, 
Millers, .... 

Painters, .... 
Paper Stainers-, 
Pewterers, - 

Printers, Book. binders and Stationers, 
Riggers, 
Rope-maker?, 
Saddlers. - 

Sail-makers, - 

Shipwrights, to include Caulkers, Ship-joiner 

Hcad-htiildert and Sawyers, 
bugar-boilers, 
Tallow-Chandlers, &c. 
Tanners. 

Taylors,. - 

Tin-plate Workers, - 



i 



No, 16. 



No. 


17. 


No. 


18. 


No. 


19. 


No. 


20. 


No. 


21. 


No. 


22. 


No. 


23. 


No. 


24. 


No. 


25. 


No. 


26. 


No. 


27. 


No. 


2(1,. 


No. 


29. 


No. 


30. 


No. 


31. 


No. 


32. 


No, 


33. 


No. 


34, 


No. 


35. 


No. 


36. 


No. 


37. 


No, 


38. 


No. 


39. 


No. 


40. 


No. 


41. 


No 


42. 


No. 


43. 


No 


44. 


No 


45. 


No 


46. 



Tobacconists, 
Truckmen, 
Turners,, 
Upholsterers, 
Wharfingers, 
W beelwrfghts, 
Seamen, 

JJ. B. — In the above arrangement, some trades are omitted — from the idea, that they would incorporate themselves with the branches 
mentioned, to which they are generally attached. For instance — it is supposed, that under the head of Blacksmiths, the Armourers, Cutlers, 
Whitesmiths and other workers in iron, would be included ; and the same with respect to other trades. 

Each division of the al>ove arrangement is requested to meet on such parade as it may agree on, and march into the Mall — No. 1 of the 
Artizans, Sic. forming at the South-end thereof. The Marshalls will then direct in what manner the Procession will move to meet the 
President on his arrival in town. When the front of the Procession arrives at the extremity of the town, it will halt, and the whole will 
then be directed to open the column— one half of each rank moving to the right, and the other half to the left — and then face inwards, so as 
to form an avenue through which the President is to pass, to the galeries to be erected at the State-House. 

It is requested that the several School-masters conduct their Scholars to the neighbourhood of the State-House, and form them in such 
order as the Marshalls shall direct. 

The Marine Society is desired to appoint some person to arrange and accompany the seamen. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 97 

with hei Comucopice and other emblems. A.s soon 
as the President entered this Colonnade he was 
saluted by three huzzas from the citizens, and by an 
Ode (see our Magazine for October, 17S ( .>, page 
659), sung by a selecl choir of singers, seated under 
the canopy erected over the arch. The whole 
formed an agreeable spectacle, and heightened tin 
pleasure of the day." 

We also present a fae-simile of* the Order of Exer- 
cises on that interesting occasion, from a copy 
preserved in the Boston Public Library. 

Finally, the project of a new State House w;b 
agitated, and the corner-stone thereof was laid 
July 4, J79o. with Masonic honors. It was firsl 
occupied by the Legislature on the 11th of Jan- 
nary. L798, when that august body marched in 
procession from the Old State House to the N~ew. 

The following description, written by Thomas 
Pemberton, a local antiquary, in 1791. was printed 
in the collection of the Massachusetts Historical So- 
ciety. 1st series, vol. hi., p. 250:-— 

The State House, called the Town House. The building firsl 
erected lor governmental business was placed at the head of King- 
street, .'iiid was consumed by fire in 1711. In the year following 
a new brick building was raised on the same spol and mel with a 
like fate the 9th of December, 17 17; when some of the records 
and other public papers were destroyed. It was repaired in the 
year following, in its present form, and is in length 11" feet, in 



98 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

breadth 38 feet, and three stories high. On the centre of the 
roof is a tower, consisting of three stories, finished according to 
the Tuscan. Doric and Ionic orders. From the upper story is an 
extensive prospect of the harbor, into the bay and of the country 
adjacent. 

The lower Moor of the building serves for a covered walk for 
of the inhabitants. On this floor are kept the offices of the 
clerks of the Supreme Judicial Court and Court of Common Pleas. 
The chambers over it are occupied by the General Court, the 
senate in one and the representative body in the opposite cham- 
ber. 

The third story is appropriated for the use of the Committees of 
the General Court. On the lower floor are ten pillars of the Doric 
order, which support the chambers occupied by the Legislature. 
This building is in Cornhill. one mile two hundred and seventy- 
nine yards from Washington street, the late fortification entrauce 
from the neck into the town. Its latitude is 42 deg. 21 min. 
north ; the longitude is 71 deg. 3 min. 30 sec. west from Green- 
wich, in Eugland. 

We have already printed {ante, p. 63) the descrip- 
tion of the building, published in August, 1791, in 
the "Massachusetts Magazine." In the same magazine 
for July, 1793, there was published a larger engrav- 
ing, here reproduced; but no explanation was given 
except a reference to the earlier issue. 

Another view of the Old State House at this time 
has been preserved to us. being engraved upon the 
policies of the Massachusetts Fire [nsurance Com- 
pany. This association, the first so established in 
the State was incorporated in 1795, and remodelled 



OLD S I'ATK HOT si. RE DEDICATION. 99 

as the Massachusetts Fire and Marine Company in 
179'.). 

The engraving was retouched, probably at the dale 
of the assumption of the new title, and the sidewalk 
at the right was sketched in. The other detail- were 
somewhat modified, so that the second state of the 
plate lia> been preferred for reproduction herewith. 

A copy of the first impression is in the collection 
of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and one of 
the second issue is placed on the walls of the Old 
State House, both given by Henry C. Short, Esq., 
of Boston. 



After the Legislature had departed, the Town 
House fell upon evil days. The town-meetings 
were held in the enlarged Paneuil Hall, with which 
we are familiar. The courts were transferred to 
the Court House on Court street, and the old build- 
ins: was given up to various tenants. The records 
of the town and of the selectmen do not enable US to 
give full details of the occupants. In fact, until 1803 
the title to the estate was in doubt. The State 
claimed the right to sell the property, and to take 
one-half the proceeds. To this the town stoutly de- 
murred, claiming the fee of the land, and a moral 
right, at least, to specify the uses to which the build- 
ing should !)'■ put. At the Town Meeting of March 



100 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

12, 1798, a committee, consisting of William Eustis, 
Josiah Waters, and William Smith, was appointed 
"to confer with a Committee of the General Court 
respecting the disposal of the Old State House." 
(Records, p. (52.) At the meeting of ISTov. 5, 
1798, the subject was again referred to William 
Eustis, Samuel Brown, Judge Minot, William Smith, 
and Thomas Edwards, to report at the adjourn- 
ment. (Records, p. 94.) 

Their report was as follows (Records, p. 99) : — 

Town Meeting Nov. '21. IT'.'s. 

"The Committee appointed to consider certain resolves of the 
Legislature of this Commonwealth relative to the disposition and 
sale of the Old Court House [in the margin wt Old State House " 
so called, have attended to the subject, and take leave to report 
as follows. 

•• First. The Committee are satisfied that the fee of the Land on 
which the House stands, is in the Town of Boston, and that they 
have likewise erected and repaired from time to time nearly one- 
half of the House ; from whence it results that the Town ought not 
to consent to the proposal made by the Legislature to appoint 
agents to sell the said House and Land thereto belonging, and to 
place one half of the proceeds in the Treasury of tiie Common- 
wealth. 

■•Secondly — The Committee are of opinion that selling 
the premises to any individual Person or company will he attended 
with consequences very injurious to the Town. The purposes for 
which it might and probably would be occupied would tend greatly 
to incumber the most frequented street in the Town, which is in its 
present state not of sufficient width for public accommodation; 





mum suna 




mmmmwMkWMMimSlmW^ iDHBnii 



■IP 



►LD STATE HOUSE RE DEDICATION. ]()] 

the danger from fire would be very much increased whethei 
house is appropriated I'm- Shops, Couuting-IIouses, or in short 
from any use to winch the interesl of individuals might appro- 
priate it. Beside the increase of real obstructions to the Streets 
on both sides of the House, the Committee are apprehensive that 
the Health of the inhabitants may be exposed by the nuisances 
which a complete occupation of the House would necessarily 
imply. 

"The Committee are of opinion that the Town ought to be 
the owners of the House and Land in order thai it may be ap- 
propriated to UO uses of which they shall disapprove. 

•• As the Ilon 1,lr Legislature appear from then- resolves to 
be impressed with an idea that one half of the premises is the 
property of the Commonwealth, and at the same time have con- 
sented to refer the claim together with that Of the Town and of 
the Counties of Suffolk and Norfolk to the Judges of the Supreme 
Judicial Court for a final decision. 

• The Committee conceive that the Town should agree to the 
reference proposed so far as thai the Judges shall finally deter- 
mine what part of the premises is the property of the Town. 

•• And with respect to the other proposal of selling whether by 
public or private sale, that the Town should not agree to the 
same, but that the Representatives of the Town be instructed to 
represent to the Legislature the inconveniences which would result 
from a sale to individuals, together with the desire of the Town 
that they will purchase from the State such their proportion of 
the same as the Judges shall award, at an appraisement to be 
made by three impartial men, to be chosen one by the Legislature, 
one by the Representatives of the Town, the third by the two first 
or by lot between them if they cannot agree. 

•• Willi \m Li stis, pr ( )rder." 

The foregoing Reporl having been read and considered was 
accepted by the Town. 



10-i OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

After some delay, at the meeting of March 1, 1802, 
the senators of the district and the representatives of 
the town were given full powers t<> treat with the 
Genera] Court in regard to the Old Town House 
and land. (^Records, p. 111.) 

Again, March 1, 1802, the Selectmen were made 
a committee to choose referees for a final adjustment 
of the claim of the State and the Town to the Old 
Town House. {Records, p. 193.) 

Finally, Feb. 15, 1803, a resolve was passed 
(Resolves, c. 95, of 1803), authorizing three com- 
missioners to sell the Commonwealth's interest to 
the town for the sum of $6,000. A like release was 
obtained from the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk, 
for the sums of $1,923.13 and $1,176.58 respectively. 30 

:il) The following deed, the original of which now hangs on these walls, is 
recorded in the Suffolk Registry, Vol. 205, fol. 207 : — 

Know all .Men by these presents : That we, the undersigned) being ap- 
pointed a Committee by the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massa- 
chusetts, by their resolve of the fifteenth of February, one thousand eight 
hundred and three, " and authorized with full power to make sale of all the 
Commonwealth's Estate, right, title and Interest, in and to the Old State 
House, to the Town of Boston, or such person or persons, and on such 
terms, as said Committee -hall judge will he most for t!ie Interest anil honor 
ot the Commonwealth and to execute goo 1 and sufficient Deed or Deeds of 
release thereof — and to pay tin- proceeds or deliver the securities which 
they may receive therefor, into the Treasury of this Commonwealth." 

For and in consideration ot' the sum of six thousand Dollars for the use of 
the Commonwealth aforesaid, paid by the Inhabitants of the Town of Bos- 
ton, in the County of Suffolk — the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowl- 
edge, Do by these presents, sell, release md forever quit claim unto the said 
Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, all the laid Commonwealth's Estate, 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. L03 

The town then voted, May 23, L803 {Records, p. 
I'll). "<>n the article in the warrant, viz. what 



right, title and Interesl in and to the building called the Old State House, 
situate at the head of State street, in Boston aforesaid. 

To have and to hold, the above released premises, to the said Inhabitants 
of the Town lit' Boston and their assigns forever. 

In witness whereof, We have hereunto set our hands and seals, in B 

the twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand 

hundred and thn 

Eni mm Titcomb a a Seal. 

Aaron Hill & a Seal. 

NlCHO's TlLLINGHAST A a Seal. 

Signed, sealed and deliver'd in presence oi 
Sam. Cazneau. 
Edw'd McLane. 
.! icob kuhn. 

Suffolk, ss. Boston, April 29th, IS03. 

Then the above named Enoch Titcomb, Aaron Hill and Nicholas 

Tillinghast, Esquires, personally appeared, and in their capacity as aforesaid 

acknowledged the foregoing instrument by them subscribed, tn be their free 

act and deed. 

Before me 

John Averi Jus: Peace 

A True < !opy. 

Attest : J< mi s '. \ i im Secretary. 

In lib. 205, fol. 215, is the deed, dated May 21, 1803, by which Seth Bul- 
lard, Thomas William-. Jr., and Mos«s Everett, commissioners appointed by 
the Court of General Sessions of the county of Norfolk, odd to the town of 
Boston all the rights of that county in the Old State House, for SI, 17(5.58. 
This county was in part formed from the old eountj S I dk, which 

had a quarter interest in the building. 

In lib. 201 - a similar deed, date, I July 21st, 1803, from Samuel 

Gardner, Ebenezer Seaver, and Josiah Batcheldor, similar mors 

for the county of Suffolk, to sell that county's right in said building to the 
town of Boston. The whole title is thus ■ 



104 (»LD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

measures shall be taken for the disposal and manage- 
ment of the Old State House? . . . that the Com- 
mittee chosen in the several Wards in April last to 
assist the Assessors, be appointed a Committee to 
consider this article in the warrant, and to report 
thereon at the Adjournment." 

On Monday, June 13, 1803, the adjourned meeting 
was held and the following report made: "After 
some debate it was moved that the sense of the 
Town be taken as to the expediency of leasing the 
same, and the question being put, it was passed in 
favour of its being leased. The report was taken 
up, amended, and accepted by the town, and is as 
follows 31 : — 

That in the opinion of the Board of Assistant Assessors, the 
Committee for the purpose, it would be for the interest of the 
Town to lease the Old State House for a term of time not less 
than ten nor to exceed twenty years, ami the rent to lie paid 
quarterly or annually, and that it he a condition of the Lease that 
the house he put into good repair and Kept s<> during the term for 

M The records of the Assessors is as follows, and shows that the town 
essentially amended the report before acceptance, in the interest of the pro- 
tection of the building : — 

1803. At a meeting of the assistant assessors held at the Selectmens 
Room by regular notification to take into consideration and act upon the 
vote of the Town, desiring this Board to make a Report to them of the best 
mode in their opinion lor the disposal of the old State House iii Boston, 

Tristram Barnard, Chairman. 

A long conversation took place on the subjeel tor which the meeting was 

called. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. ](>.") 

which it may be leased, by, and at the expense of the Lessee, 
and shall be occupied for public or private offices and such other 

Voted, To adjourn this meeting to Thursday next at 4 P.M. then : 
in this room and that the Secretary notify the members of the Board thereof. 

Adjourned, Attest W. Walter, Sec. 

At a meeting of the Board of assistant assessors held by adjournment on 
Thursday Afternoon the at the Selectmens Room, when 

having heard the opinions of the several Members on the subjeel of the < *ld 
State House, the following Report was drawn up and adopted by a very 
large majority of the Hoard there being present 

Messrs. Tristram Barnard, William Walter, 

\>a Hammond, Jno Brazier, .Ino Wait. 
Jacob Rhoades, Joshua Hall. Jon a Loring, 
Mitchell Lincoln, Benj Smith. Jacob Holland, 
Josiah Knafp, Jno Winslow, Xathan Webb, 
Francis Wright, and Josiah Wheeler. 

The Board of Assistant Assessors whom the Town at their last Meeting 

Voted should take into consideration & report their opinion of the best mode 

he future disposal and management of the Old State House, having 

attended that Business and very fully considered the subject, beg leave to 

Report : 

That in the opinion of this Hoard it would be for the interest of the Town 
to Lease the Old State House, for a term of time not less than Twenty, nor 
to exceed Fifty years: the time to he atthe option of the Lessee, and the 
rent to be paid Quarterly; and that it \«- a condition of the Lease that the 
House he put into good Repair, and kept so during the term for which it 
ma\ he leased, by and at the expence of the Lessee and shall he occupied 
for public or private offices & such other purposes only as the Selectmen 
for the time being shall approve of and that no alteration be made in the 
external the Building without their approbation. And that it 

would he best to dispose of the Lease at Auction. 

Voted. That the above report he signed by the Chairman £ presented to 

the Selectmen. 

Voted. That the Meeting be dissolved. 

Attest W. W \t 1 1 r, v 



106 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

purposes only, as the Selectmen for the time being shall approve 
of; and that no alteration be made in the external form of the 
building without their approbation ; the Lease containing a clause 
providing that if the Rent shall not be punctually paid, according 
to the terms of the lease, or if the Lessee or Lessees, their heirs or 
assigns, shall not occupy the estate according to the approbation 
or orders of the Selectmen as before expressed; or shall suffer it 
to go to waste for want of repairs, that then the Selectmen or the 
Town shall have a right to re-enter, and b} r the re-entry to render 
the Lease void after such re-entry: providing however that the 
rights of re-entry be no bar to an action on the Lease against 
the Lessee or Lessees, their heirs, executors, administrators or 
assigns, if the Town consider such mode to be most eligible : 
and that it would be best to dispose of the lease at public auction. 

Tristram Barnard, Chairman. 
William Walter, Secretary. 

The selectmen were instructed, March 13, 1809, to 
carry into complete effect the condition of the lease. 

It would seem that in 1801) a Dr. Hand was one 
tenant; in 1810 a Mr. Burley, and also the Colum- 
bian Insurance Co. In 1811 the office lately occu- 
pied by Mr. Park was divided into smaller rooms. 
In 1812 the cellars were let tor three years, for $600, 
to B. Foster, Josiah Siders, and Edward Flood, or 
Floyd. April 29, 1812, the County Treasurer was 
assigned a room adjoining westerly that of the Town 
Treasurer. July 8, 1812, the room lately hired by 
Henry Messenger, and then by Samuel D. Parker. 
was valued at $200 rent, In 1813 Mr. Harrington's 
rent was reduced to 8120. and applications for a re- 




ij3sS§§s8i 



t Ii.d State [Iousi in 182] 



1 1 . . 1 1 1 II;,! 



•y-) 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE DEDICATION. 107 

duction were made by the Commercial Insurance 
Co., Mr. Floyd, and Mr. Siders. In the spring of 
1816 Mr. II. X. Rogers applied in behalf of the gen- 
tlemen associated at Merchants' Hall, and obtained 
leave to use the lanthorn of the Old Stale House as 
an observatory for ships. The rents then fixed were 
for Mr. Barry, $800; Mr. Rea, $800; Gilbert and 
Dean, $200; Heal and Hobart, $150. ( .Mr. William 
Barry kept a hat-store there in 1826.) Mr. Messen- 
ger declined to pay a rent of $300; and the office 
lately occupied by Mr. Selfridge was let to Mr. 
Parker, for $150. 

On the 20th March. 1816, the building narrowly 
escaped destruction by fire, as the following extract 
from the newspaper shows. The "Columbian Cen- 
tinel " for Satin-day. March 22d, reports a fire in 
Fish street, at three o'clock on Thursday morning 
previous, and adds: — 

In the nighl of the above lire the Old State House narrowly 
escaped destruction, from fire communicating through the founda- 
tion of a stove to the floor and joists. Fortunately some 
persons who had been roused early by the preceding alarm, en- 
tered the house in season to extinguish the lire, and probably 
saved the books and documents in the County and town Treasury 
offices from being consumed. 

In January, L817, Mr. Greenwood applied for the 
upper part, and was informed that the lowesl rent, 
would be $1,200. Probably this was Mi. E. A. 



108 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Greenwood, who opened his museum, July, 4, 1818, 
in Court street. 

We copy the following description from Shaw's 
History of Boston, printed in 1817: — 

Old State House. — The building first erected for govern- 
mental business was placed at the head of King-street, and was 
consumed by tire in 1711. In the year following a new brick 
building was raised on the same spot, and met a like fate on the 
Oth of December, 1747, when some of the records and other 
public papers were destroyed. It was repaired in the year follow- 
ing, in its present form, and is in length one hundred and ten 
feet, in breadth thirty-eight feet, and three stories high. On the 
centre of the roof is a tower, consisting of three stories, finished 
according to the Tuscan, Dorick and Ionick orders. From the 
upper story is an extensive prospect of the harbor, into the bay. 
and of the country adjacent. The lower floor of the building 
served for a covered walk for any of the inhabitants. On this 
floor were kept the offices of the clerks of the Supreme Judicial 
Court and Court of Common Pleas. The chambers over it were 
occupied by the General Court, the senate in one and the rep- 
resentative body in the opposite chamber. The third story was 
appropriated for the use of the committees of the General Court. 
On the lower floor were ten pillars of the Dorick order, which 
supported the chambers occupied by the Legislature. This 
building is in Cornhill, one mile two hundred and seventy-nine 
yards from Washington street, the late fortification entrance from 
the neck into the town. 

Dec. 28, 1819, Col. Daniel Messinger hired his 
room and the one adjoining, lately occupied by 
Charles Bridge, for $500. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION 109 

June 22, 1820, the town voted to lease all the 
rooms above the lower story, except two on Cornhill 
(i.e., Washington street), for $600, to the Free- 
masons, and the selectmen made a lease accordingly 
for ten years from October 1. The records of the 
Grand Lodge show that the last meeting was June 
9, 1830. 

January 30, 1^2'2. the Directors of the United 
States Bank, being in search of a suitable place, 
offered to buy the building; but the offer was not 
accepted. 

The following description from the first edition of 
Bowen's " Picture of Boston," 1828-9. shows the con- 
dition of affairs until 1830: — 



Old State House. — The building first erected for govern- 
mental business was placed al the head of State-street. It has 
been twirc burnt. The last time it was destroyed was in 1747, 
and it was repaired in it- presenl form, in the following year. 
The building is in length 11<», in breadth 38 feet, three stories 
high, finished according to the Tuscan, Dorick and Ionic orders. 
The lower story of this building is now rented 'by the city for 
stores and offices, the second and third stories, except one room 
at the west of the second story (which is occupied for the city 
Treasurer's office), are occupied by the .Masonic Lodges in Boston. 
The Masonic Hall is elegantly embellished; the decorations and 
furniture are very rich and appropriate, and the room is sufficiently 
capacious for most masonic purposes. !t measures !•"> by 32 fret 
and is 1<'> feel high. The following is a list of the lodges that 
hold their meetings here, viz.. — 



110 <>I>I> STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Grand Lodge of Massachusetts on the second Wednesda}' in 
December, March, June and September. 

Grand Chapter, 2d Tuesday in December, June and September. 

St. John's Lodge on 1st Tuesday of each month. 

St. Andrew's on 2d Thursday of each month. 

Massachusetts on hist Friday of each month. 

Columbian on 1st Thursday of each month. 

.Mount Lebanon on last Monday of each month. 

St. Andrew's Chapter on 1st Wednesday of each month. 

St. Paul's Chapter on 3d Tuesday of each month. 

Council of R.M. on last Wednesday of each month. 

Encampment on 3d Wednesday of each month. 

This building, being placed at the head of one of the first 
streets in Boston, has quite a pleasant and imposing appearance 
to the stranger as he approaches it from Long Wharf. In Hales' 
••Survey of Boston and Vicinity" the measures of distances are 
reckoned from this building. 

The accompanying view is part of a large picture 
painted, in 1829, by Salmon, from a point on Pem- 
berton Hill. 

The city government was inaugurated at Faneuil 
Hall, May 1, 1822, but no arrangements had been 
made for a City Hall. As will be more fully shown 
in Appendix ET, accommodation was obtained for the 
various departments in different buildings, the Mayor 
and the City Council being provided for in the Stone 
or County Court-House on School street, on the site 
now covered by City Hall. Such a state of affairs 
was of course inconvenient, and the project of a City 
I Iall was soon agitated. 




\4M 




Washington Street End, 1S50. 



State Street End, 1SS0. 






' ' il 







View from Pemberton Hill, 
1S29. 





Washington Street End, 1S35. 



Washington Street End, 1SS0. 



OLD STATE HOI SI HE DEDICATION. ] ] ] 

Iii 1830 it was decided to occupy the Old State 
House for city purposes. During these eighl years 
the preservation of the building had been twice in 
doubt. In November, 1825, it came near destruction 
1>\ fire, as the following vote shows: — 

In Board of Aldermen, January 23, \s-jt\. •• it having been 
made known to the Board of Aldermen, that, at the fire in Court 
street in November last, Mr. Almoran Holmes and Mr. Bela 
Lincoln were instrumental in preserving the City Building called 
the Old State House, by permitting themselves to be let down 
from the cupola to the ridge-pole of the building, and from thence 
extinguishing the fire that had already rekindled upon the roof 
thereon: Resolved that the thanks of this board be presented to 
them for their distinguished exertions in preserving, with so much 
skill and at so much personal hazard, in the manner above stated. 
the property of the city from destruction." 

Again, in 1826, the Washington Monument Asso- 
ciation was desirous of obtaining a site for Chan- 
try's statue, now placed in the State House. They 
finally decided that the best place would be on the 
site of the Old State House, in a building to be 
erected for the purpose. In a report published 1>\ 
the trustees they stated "the reasons which induced 
the Committee to prefer the site of the Old State 
House had reference as much to the honor and 
interests of the City, to it- ornament and con- 
venience, as to the peculiar fitness of this spot for 
the permanent location of a monumenl in honor of 



112 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

our First Citizen. This place was selected in the 
infancy of our State, as the seat of Legislation and 
Jurisprudence. In the edifice there erected, a suc- 
cession of firm, enlightened, and vigorous measures 
of resistance to the usurpations of the British 
ministry were devised and adopted, which must be 
considered as the more immediate causes of our 
National Independence, and it seems to be difficult 
to reconcile the comparatively degraded uses, to 
which that edifice has since been condemned, with 
the uniform patriotism, and veneration for the found- 
ers of our Republic, for which the City of Boston 
lias been, at all periods of its history, so distin- 
guished." The committee to present this report 
consisted of John Lowell, James Lloyd, John Davis, 
John C. Warren, William Sullivan, and Edward 
Everett. Objection, however, was made by the 
public, and the building happily escaped destruction 
at the hands of those who esteemed themselves its 
friends. 

The work of restoration, in 1830, was confided to 
Isaiah Rogers, and he entrusted part of the details to 
a young architect just beginning the series of works 
which makes the name of William Washburn familiar 
to us. It was a time when classical types were in 
vogue, and, therefore, the additions were patterned 
on Grecian models. Heavy wooden porticos were 
added at each end, and these hails on the second 




City Hall, 1*30. 
From Snow's Geography 





en v II vi. i , 1835. 
(From Bewick Co.'s Map.1 



City Hall, ISSS. 
I Bowen's Picture. 



OLD STATE HOUSE LIE DEDICATION \]'.\ 

floor were fitted to the uses of the City Council. 
In this room the Aldermen met; in the Repre- 
sentatives' Hall the Common Council. The pre- 
ceding: extracts from Bo wen and Shaw, with the 
accompanying pictures, fully illustrate this occu- 
pancy, which lasted lor ten years, until 1840, and 
which, indeed, is recollected by many of our 
citizens. 

To complete the record we copy the following 
from the third edition of Bowen's "Picture," dated 
1838, when there was already a discussion about 
leaving the building: — 

City Hall. — The first building for governmental business was 
erected at the head of whal was then called King-street, about 
1658. It lias been twice burnt. The last time it was destroyed 
was 1747. and it was repaired in the following year nearly in its 
form. The building is in length 11<». in breadth 38 feet, 
three stories high, finished according to the Tuscan, Doric and 
Ionic orders. Till recently it was called -the "Old State House." 
The latitude of this building is very near VI deg. 21 min. north; 
the longitude is 71 deg. 3 min. 30 see. west from Greenwich, in 
England. 

After the Revolution, it was the place <<\' meeting for tho 

aeral Court, till after the completion of the Stair House near 
Beacon Hill. From about that time, to the year 1830 (thirty 
years), the lower floor and cellar were used by various tradesmen. 
I usurance < >ffices, etc. 

On the 17th Sept.. 1830, having been thorough^- repaired, il 
was. by an ordinance of the City Government, called the "City 
Hall," — by which name it has since been designated. It stands 



Ill OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

al the head of State street and on the line of Washington street, 
the Broad way of the metropolis of Massachusetts, having a tower 
overlooking most of the city and harbor, vising from the centre of 
the roof. The fronts on Washington and State streets have each 
a portico. Being in the very focus of business and nearly in the 
centre of the city, the use to which this venerable pile is now 
devoted appears to give universal satisfaction. 

On the first floor are three large rooms ; that facing Washing- 
ton street is the Post-Office. At the other extremity, looking 
down State street, is Topliffs News Room, one of the best con- 
ducted establishments, for the accommodation of merchants, in the 
United States. The middle room, a lofty apartment, supported 
by pillars, is the Merchants' Exchange, and common thorough- 
fare to the public offices. 

From this central room is a flight of winding stairs, leading to 
a suite of apartments in the second story. Directly over the Post- 
Office is the Hall of the Common Council, in which they ordinarily 
meet on public business. In the opposite end of the building is 
the Hall of the Mayor and Aldermen. In this room the chief 
Magistrate of the city, together with the City Clerk, remain 
through the day, in the discharge of their ordinary duties. The 
Board of Aldermen hold their meetings, also, on Monday even- 
ings. Around the circular area of the stairs are a series of 
Offices, viz.. the Auditor's. Treasurer's, Assistant City Clerk's, 
Clerk of Common Council, and the Health Office, which latter 
accommodates the City Marshal, Superintendent of Burial Grounds, 
Physician of the Tort. Captain of the Port, Captain of the Watch, 
Superintendent of Lamps, and the Commissioner of Streets. 

Another flight of stairs leads to the third story, in which i- the 
Office of the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department. City Land 
Commissioner, Messenger, a Committee Loom, and a large Hall, 
in which is a recently organized public Vaccine Institution, for the 
gratuitous inoculation of the poor. 




Vii w or i in l-'iKi in 1^ :; '-' 




nun Salmon's Picture 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 1 1 ,"> 

The whole is lighted with gas, as well as the lamps a1 the four 
corners of the building. Besides being ornamental to the city, 
the concentration of so many importanl offices under one roof 
renders the City Hall an objecl of peculiar interest. 

On the 2ls1 of November, L832, aboul five o'clock in the morn- 
ing, this ancient building', the scene of so many interesting events. 
again took tire from an opposite building, under the stool of one 
of the Lutheran windows, which soon communicated with the 
under side of the roof, and had it not been for the uncommon ex- 
ertions of the lire department it must have been completely pros- 
trated in a little time. As it was. however, the damages were 
easily repaired. The appropriation of the Council for the purpose 
was $3,500.00. No papers of importance, were lost, and the 
curious records of the city, from its first settlement, for a third 
time, were safely rescued from a devouring element. 

In Hales' - w Survey of Boston and Vicinity," the measures of 
distance are reckoned from this building. 

The building was, for a third time, put in peril, 
when, on the 21st of November, 1832, the fire in 
a building - opposite Avas communicated to the roof 
of this building, but, happily, was soon arrested. 
Salmon's picture of the event is familiar to us all, 
having been engraved on the diplomas of the Fife 
Department. Surely we may say of the venerable 
tower, almost in Longfellow's words, — 

■■ In the market-place of Bruges, stands the belfry old and brown. 
Thrice consumed and thrice rebuilded, still it watches e'er the town." 



After the removal of the City Hall to iis School- 
streel site, this building was again abandoned to 



116 OLD STATE IK USE RE-DEDICATION. 

business purposes, and, in the hands of successive 
lessees, it rapidly deteriorated. A hideous mansard 
roof disfigured its external lines; new partitions 
obliterated for the time the fair proportions of these 
halls; signs, telegraph wires and poles in countless 
number contributed to the shameful defacement. 
The annexed copy of an engraving issued at that 
date portrays the wreck better than any description 
can. So completely were the memories of the site 
forgotten, and so arrogant were the fancied demands 
of commerce, that, in 1875, it was almost decided 
to pull down the building. Happily better counsels 
prevailed, and the building was spared, though 
even then it received a fresh injury in the form 
of a huge stairway cut through the walls of the 
eastern end, as shown in the picture of that date. 
In 1881 the City Council authorized that work of 
restoration, which, on its completion, is to-day 
submitted to your consideration. 

A complete account of what has been done is to 
be read in Appendix G, furnished by the City 
Architect. It will be enough to state at present, 
that we now behold substantially the same halls 
which echoed the eloquence of Adams, Quincy, 
Otis, and Warren, and which witnessed tin- baffled 
intrigues of Hutchinson and Oliver, and the un- 
successful plans of Gage and Clinton, Howe and 
Burgoyne. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 117 

When, in 1830, Harrison Gray Otis, then mayor 

of the city, stood here to welcome, the inauguration 

of his government, he thus addressed the Council 
in regard to this building: — 

It exhibits no pomp of architectural grandeur or refined taste, 
and has no pretensions to vie with the magnificent structures 
of other countries or even of our own. Yet it is a goodly and 
venerable pile; and with recent improvements is an ornament 
of the place, of whose liberty it was once the citadel. And it 
has an interest for Bostonians who enter it this day. like that 
which is felt by grown children for an ancient matron by whom 
they were reared, and whom, visiting after years of absence 
they find in her neat, chaste, old-fashioned attire, spruced up to 
receive them, with her comforts about her, and the same kind, 
hospitable, and excellent creature whom they left in less flourish- 
in"' circumstances. But to this edifice there is not only a natural. 
but " a spiritual body." which is the immortal soul of Independ- 
ence. Nor is there, on the face of the earth, another building, 
however venerable for its antiquity, or stately in its magnificence, 
however decorated by columns and porticos, and cartoons, and 
statues and altars, and outshining the wealth of Ormus or of 
Ind, entitled in history to more honorable mention, or whose 
spires and turrets are surrounded with more glorious halo than 
this unpretending building. 

I refer you to the day when Independence, mature in age and 
loveliness, advanced with angelic grace from the chamber in which 
she was born into the same balcony, and holding in her hand the 
immortal scroll on which her name and character, and claims to 
her inheritance were inscribed, received from the street, tilled with 
an impenetrable phalanx, and windows glittering with a blaze of 
beauty, the heartfelt homage and electrifying peals of men. 



118 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

women, and children of the whole city. The splendor of that 
glorious vision of my childhood seems to be now present to my view, 
and the harmony of that universal concert to vibrate in my ear. 

We, gentlemen, have now become, for a short period, occu- 
pants of this Temple of Liberty. Henceforth, for many years, 
the City Government will probably be here administered. . . . 
May we, and those who will succeed us, appreciate the respon- 
sibleness attached to our places by the merit of our predecessors ; 
and though we cannot serve our country to the same advantage, 
may we love it with equal fidelity. And may the guardian genius 
of our beloved city forever delight to dwell in these renovated 
walls ! 

After the lapse of half a century we assemble to 
renew these pious- labors, and to repeat his fervent 
prayers for their success; but the times are more 
propitious for us, since the present generation has 
been taught anew the necessity of perpetually culti- 
vating those patriotic virtues which alone can ani- 
mate a nation in times of adversity. 

Twenty years have passed since the assembled 
citizens of Boston were again aroused, from the 
balcony of this chamber, by the eloquence of those 
speakers who uttered the cry, "To arms! " 

God grant that in our day that appeal may never 
again be made; but should the necessity arise, it must 
be made to a community which has been daily 
familiar with the lessons taught by the memories of 
these halls as well as of the " Cradle of Liberty," — 
Faneuil Hall. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 119 

"Here the child Independence was born!" and 
what untold glories in the future that birth por- 
tended ! The independence for which our fathers 
fought was freedom of thought, speech, and action in 
every land and in every generation. The chain 
which they broke was not simply that of Great 
Britain over America, but the greater fetters of 
usurped authority over the bodies and minds of 
millions in other lands. To our success is to be 
attributed whatever liberty has been achieved for the 
suffering nations of Europe, or for the long-enslaved 
victims of unwarrantable oppression in our own land. 
I had thought I had recited all the stirring events 
connected with this building, but I pause to add that 
it afforded a temporary shelter to William Lloyd 
( rarrison, as he was unwillingly rescued from the mis- 
guided rage of a pro-slavery mob. Let us rejoice 
that we to-day can assert, that, among the results 
of that Independence which was first proclaimed 
on this spot, has been the purging of tin- Great 
Republic of the anomalous stain and reproach of 
domestic slavery. 

And, surely, if we have, at so great cost of treasure 
and blood, expiated our national sin, we may turn, 
with expectant gaze, to our sister nations for a simi- 
lar sacrifice. The independence which we inculcate 
demands that, wherever, under any professed form of 
law, the labor of the peasant profits only his master, 



120 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

that iniquity shall cease, — whether it be in the 
familiar case of Ireland, whose wrongs meet with so 
prompt a response in kindred bosoms here, — or of 
Russia, where the lurid torch of Nihilism reveals 
the misery of untold millions, — or wherever else the 
wretched serf looks eagerly to the land of promise 
on this side of the Atlantic. 

Fellow-citizens, so long as we maintain the sacred 
fires upon the altars, we may claim the right to be 
especially favored by the divinity. I cannot allow 
myself to dwell upon the possibility of any future 
surrender of these walls to any purpose less appro- 
priate than that we now celebrate. I cannot antici- 
pate any decrease in the prosperity or the public 
spirit of our beloved city. I can only predict that 
future generations, for centuries to come, will visit 
this spot and will remember us thankfully for what 
we have this day done. 

To you, Mr. Mayor, as the highest representative 
of the city, I now transfer the care and custody of 
the Old State House, felicitating you upon the hon- 
orable duty, and congratulating the city that it 
devolves upon one so well qualified, by assiduous 
study, to appreciate the value of this acquisition. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 121 

At the conclusion of Mr. Whitmore's address, His Honor 
Mayor ( rreen said : — 

MAYOR GREEN'S REMARKS. 

Mr. Chairman: — The Old State House to-day 
comes back to the city, and as the chief executive 
officer T greet the venerable structure with a warm 
and hearty welcome. After an occupation of many 
years for purposes of general business, these halls 
are now to be used for the reception and preserva- 
tion of historical objects of local interest. The com- 
mittee of which you are at the head, Mr. Alderman, 
having this matter in charge, deserve the thanks of 
the community, for the way in which it has been 
done. I know full well that the work has fallen 
largely on the shoulders of the Councilman who has 
given us this morning his interesting and instructive 
address, and it is through his untiring zeal as an 
antiquary that this plan has been brought to a suc- 
cessful issue. T sympathize most warmly with him 
in the expression that the use we now give to these 
halls may be the permanent one. He has told how 
this building was erected as a town-house, and 
traced its history from the earliest days to the 
present time. Its close connection with the various 
political events of our city and State makes it a 
conspicuous monument in our local annals. 



122 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

The formal dedication of a public building is a 
custom of comparatively modern times. The found- 
ers of ]\ T ew England were too busy to indulge in 
mere formalities; and, even if they had the time, they 
were apt to look upon such observances as idle and 
frivolous. They regarded the various purposes to 
which a building was put as in themselves a .sufficient 
dedication; and for this reason they avoided any 
special ceremony to emphasize its objects or uses. 
While it is true, then, that this structure was never 
formally dedicated, it is equally true that it was con- 
secrated by all that was high and noble in patriotic 
service, through the words that were spoken and the 
deeds that were inspired within its walls. 

The political town-meeting is an outgrowth of 
New England life, and it has been the very cradle of 
American liberty and independence. It originated 
with the first comers and has been kept up by their 
successors till the present time. The freemen of the 
several towns came together in public meeting to dis- 
cuss and settle questions of general interest. They 
chose town officers, to whom was delegated the 
power to manage their civil as well as ecclesiastical 
affairs. It was at such gatherings that a i'wa and 
full recognition of popular rights was first made in 
this country, and the very foundation and corner- 
stone of our present political system laid. The best 
insight of the forces that developed local self-gov- 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE DEDICATION. L23 

eminent is to be round in the action of such meet- 
ings. The causes thai brought about the separation 
of the American colonies from the mot her country 
were ripening during many years, but they were kept 
alive and active by these public assemblages. Bos- 
ton was the largest and most influential town on the 
continent, and was always ready to take the lead in 
public affairs. When she spoke, her voice was heard 
with no doubtful sound, and she had all New Eng- 
land for an audience. Her utterances were given 
from this building as well as from Faneuil Hall and 
the Old South Meeting-house. These three struct- 
ures are full of historical reminiscences and associa- 
tions, and I envy not the man who can approach 
any one of them with ordinary feelings. Rude 
though they are in external form they represent 
in their traditions the highest form of religion 
and patriotism, as understood by the framers of 
our government. He lacks some of the human 
sensibilities whose heart is not thrilled, and whose 
emotions are not quickened, when he enters their 
portals. 

I do not forget the fact that this building was 
occupied by the municipal authorities during a period 
of ten years. On Sept. 17, 1830, the two hundredth 
anniversary of the settlement of Boston, the City 
Government, under the Mayoralty of Harrison Gray 
Otis, took possession of these apartments, and used 



124 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

them until March 18, 1841. It was under this roof 
that the administrations of Charles Wells, Theodore 
Lyman, Samuel T. Armstrong, and Samuel A. Eliot 
were carried on; and it was while Jonathan Chap- 
man was Mayor that the city offices were again 
removed to the City Hall, standing between Court 
square and School street. Whatever may be the fate 
of other public buildings, let us cherish the hope thai 
the Old State House may stand as a connecting link 
between the provincial and national periods of our 
country's history, and that it may continually remind 
us of the unselfish devotion and hard struggles of 
the men who laid the foundation of our present gov- 
ernment. 

Alderman Hersey. — I recognize among our 
honored guests to-day, the face and form of him 
whose memory extends far back into the past, and 
who, I know, can give us some personal reminis- 
cences connected with this building. I allude to 
the Hon. Marshall P. Wilder. 

REMARKS of HON. MARSHALL P. WILDER. 

I did not expect, Mr. Mayor, and Mr. Chairman, 
to be called upon here to say a single word to-day. 
At my time of life, and under this oppressive heat, 
my words must be very few. But I rejoice from the 
bottom of my heart that 1 am able to be here on this 



(jxA- STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 125 

consecrated spot, and participate in the ceremony of 
the restoration of the Old State House. 

I say my words must be few; but I desire to 
tender to His Honor the Mayor, and to the City 
Government, the thanks of the Historic-Genealogi- 
cal Society, in their behalf and in my own; I desire 
to thank you for the wisdom of making the appro- 
priation which has placed again, as we believe, much 
in its old style, this building of former days; and I 
desire to thank Mr. Whitmore for his energetic, 
enterprising, persistent, and successful labors in bring- 
ing again into this form, this structure, so ancient, 
and so renowned in the history of this city, because 
of the events, so graphically described by Mr. Whit- 
more and His Honor the Mayor, which transpired 
upon this spot. Here Independence drew its first 
breath. This spot, now consecrated by the restora- 
tion of this building, will perpetuate the history of 
those men, who, more than any others, led in the 
American revolution, and gave to the world the first 
great, free, and independent nation on earth. 

The work has been well accomplished. Nothing 
could be more- appropriate; and the provision made 
for it by the City Government, I am sure you will 
all say, could not have been more judiciously ex- 
pended. For I hold that next to training the spirit 
lor the life eternal, there is no obligation more 
solemn than that of perpetuating to future genera- 



126 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

tions the principles and virtues of those noble men 
who gave to the world this great republic, — principles 
and virtues upon which must ever rest the happiness 
and prosperity of all our people. 



This ended the formal exercises. The following letters, 
addressed to the Chairman of the Committee, Alderman 
Woolley, were not read, owing to his absence; but they are 
worthy of preservation in the history of the celebration: — 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 

Executive Department, July 8, 1882. 
My dear Mr. Alderman : — I thank you for your kind invi- 
tation to the re-dedication of the Old State House, with its 
interesting associations. I am unable to accept on account of 
engagements at the same hour, but I beg to send my kindest 

wishes for the occasion. 

Very truly yours, 

JOHN D. LONG. 
Wat. Woolley, Esq. 

Navy Yard, Boston, 
Commandant's Office, July 10, 1882. 
Dear Sir: — 1 have had the honor of receiving your kind 
invitation to attend at the Old State House to-morrow to partici- 
pate in the ceremonies of the re-dedication of that ancient and 
interesting structure. 1 greatly regret that my health is such 
that I will not lie able to attend. 

With many thanks to you and to Mr. Whitmore, 1 have the 

honor to be, 

Very respectfully yours, 

O. C. BADGER, Commodore, U.S.N. 
William W i.iv. Esq., 

< ity Council, City Hall, Boston, 



APPENDICES 



APPENDICES. 



APPENDIX A. 



Copies of Original Papers, in the possession of the 
Massachusetts Historical Society, relating to the Erec- 
tion of the Town House in Boston in 1057. 



1. 

POWEB CONFERRED BY THE COMMITTEES FOE THE TOWN 

HOUSE— LG57. 

Wee whose names are vnder wrighten having full power given vs by the 
Town of Boston to Agree with workmen, & in their behalfe to Engadge the 
Town, In the Payment of any sum or sums for the building Erecting- & Com- 
pleating of A bouse forthe Town both forthe forme fcdimentions &c. accord- 
ing as we shall Judge meet. They the s d Towne having Engadged themselves 
to own & stand by vs and pforme what promises Covenants or Engadgm wee 
should make in order to the accomplishing of the premises, And to facillitate 
the v 1 worke we the s d subscribed dee makechoyce of M Edward Hutchinson 
S John Hull in o behalfe to Agree & Compound with workmen feEngadge 
pavin' in eyerie respect for the s d worke & we doe hereby oblidge o r selves to 
stand by, own, & perfoQme what the s' 1 M r Ed: Hutchinson & Jn Hull Soe 
deputed shall due or Engadge themselves in as iff it was the personall act of 
everie one off vs & heervnto we subscribe o r hands, by this binding >< r selves 
likewise to own what the s (1 prtyes have allridy done in the s d worke signed 
this 31 of the G th month L657. 



Townesmen 

('mil hi IS 



t Tho: Marshal] 
I Sami n, ( !ole 
- William Paddy 
I Josh: Scottow 
', Jer: Howchis 



AGEEEM 1 FOE THE TOWN HOUSE- 1657. 

Bi «ton, A ugusl 1 , 1657. 

Woe « hose names are vnder wrighten Being chosen by & in behalfe of the 
Towne of Boston, to bargain <S Contract with some able workmen about A 



130 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 



house for the Town, wo have bargained &Contracted, & by these presents doe 
bargain & Covenant with Thomas Joy and Bartholomew Bemad of Boston; & 
the s d Thomas Joy & Barth Bemad, are heerby bound & doe oblidge them- 
selves vnto the s d Town of Boston & in vn [to] In theire behalfe) that they 
will Prepare & Erect, a very substantiall and Comely building In the place 
Appointed by the s 1 ' Tow n ; The dimentions ofw ch Edifice shall be sixty six fo i 
in Length, and thirty six foot in Breadth from out side to out side, set vpon 
twenty one Pillers of full ten foot high between Pedestal] & Capitall, <S 
well brased all four waies, placed upon foundation of stones in the bottorne. 
The wholl Building to Jetty over three foot without the Tillers everie way: 
The height of the s' 1 House to he ten foot betwixt Joynts ahove the Pillers, 
and a halfe storie above that with three gable Endes over it vpon each 
side: A walke vpon the Top fourteen or 15footewide with two Turrets. & 
turned Balasters and railes, round about the walke according to A modell or 
draught Presented to vs, bythe s d Tho: Joy. & Barth: Bernad. The s d Tho: 
Joy & Barth. Bernad Likewise finding things neeisarie and meet for th 
Building viz : Timber in in everie respect & of everie sort, substantiall & meet 
according to Proportion & Art, Plank for the sides & ends three Inch thick,* 
well groved into one another, and into the timbers allso an Inch and halfe: 
well plained and smoothed on Both sides, two Inch plank for the lower 
floor, and full Inch for the vpper floor, Both smoothed, and vpon the walk 
duble hoarded and well groved; the RoofF well boarded & shingled, with 
gutters sufficiently made. 

Bringing all to the Place, Erecting finishing & Compleating the whole Edi- 
fice viz The Frame, foundations, Floores, staires (viz Two pair halfe paced 
staires & turned staires vp into the walke) doores, window Cases & Casements 
mantle peeces Enclosures Pertitions f fecThe wholl Edifice to be Erected, by 
the thirty daye of the fourth month called June next ensuing the date heer- 
oft and Covered and shingled within six weekes after that. The Town find- 
ing all the Iron worke, as nailes hookes hinges &c. glass with glasingand Lead 
tor the Gutters masonrie worke as the chimnies, foundation of the Pillers with 
stone brickS Lime belonging to the same the affo r s d Tho: & Barth: all the 
otler worke as affo, sl1 The Town finding help at the raysing. 

In consideration of the premises we doe heerby oblidge ourselves (accord- 
ing to order & in behalfe of the s d Town of Boston affors' 1 ) To give & Assigne 
o\ r vnto the s d Tho: Joy & Barthol: Bernad or to either of them or their 
assignes the three Hund: Pounds w ch is that Part of the Legacy of Cap* Rob 
Kcvne (deceased) designed & bequeathed vnto the s d Town in his Last will for 
ther vse. and also one hund. Pound more we heerby oblidge o r selves to Pa\ 
or Cause to bepaied vnto the s d Thomas & Bartholomew or their Assignes In 
good English goods at price Currant, and likewise to doe our vttmost that one 
fiffty pound of this ahove mentioned paym' (viz out of the thre Hun d ) may he 
made in mony for the more lively cavsing an end of the affo r s d worke. 

The time w ch Payment shall he a- follow, th \ iz : one Hund. Pound at the 
Bringing of the Timber to the Place A second Hund: at the raysing A third 
Hund: at the inclosure & Covering A fourth at the finishing and Compleating 
vnto all these premises aboves d we doe heerby Joyntly & severaly mutualy & 
Interchangeably hind o r selves by o r hands & scales this firsl of August, 1657. 

We doe also engadge that the three Hund: pound in the Legacy aboves d 
shall lie made good vnto the s' 1 workmen Thomas >.V Bartholomew-. 
Witm ss heer vnto 

Joseph Newgati Edward Hutchinson [seal] 

James Browni John Hull [seal] 

Henri Powning 



( >niy v\c alow of Two I mil plank for the sides & ends above the Platea & beames. 

f There la to be both Roomes from the ohimnies closed on both sides and one Cross partition 

in i me of the I.' nes . beside the stair > 



APPENDIX A. 



131 



COPY' OF THE SUBSCRIPTION PAPEK FOR THE FIRST TOWN 
HOUSE IN BOSTON, ERECTED BETWEEN 1657 AND 1659. 

Whearas thear is giuen a considerabl sume by Capt Kayne towars thP 
Bidding of a towne House w<* sum will „ . atainethe Bulding w' ' h ,„ - 
tioneth in his will, now considering the vsefullnes of such a structure we whose 
names are vnder written, doe ingag or selues or heyres executors for to due 
towards the abou sd hous and alsoe a condil in the market place the several! 
sumes vnder written. ' . ' 



17. pd 
pd 
pd 

pd 46 



pd 



pd 
pd 
pd 
pd 
pd 

paid 

paid 
pd 
pd 

paid 
pd 

paid. 

paid 
pd 
pd 

pd 
paid 



paid 



paid 

paid 

paid 
pd 

paid 

I Pd 

paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 



Jo: Endecott .... 

Ri Bellingham in Country pay 

Edward Tynge in Corne ' 

John Euered in goods and corne 

Peter ( Uliuer in goods and provisions 

John 3 Barrett : in goods : or corne 

d. 29 ' ug. 1658 
.Tames ( Ui.aer provided there be a ( lundit witl 

g Is and provisions eqelly 

Will Paine in goods and provisions 
Richard Parker in goods and provisions 
Nathaniell Williams in goods 
Sarah Parker in provisions 
Henry Powning in goods 
John Cogan in Corne .... 
] five pound .... 
Theodore Atkinson will give in hats 
Tho Howkings .... 
John Hull In English goods five 1 '" 
Thomr.s Clarke in provision or goods 
Robt Turner .... 
Richard < looke in provisions . 
Robert Swift .... 
Samuel Hutchinson in wheat . 
Josh Scottow in pvision or goods . 
Will'" Hudson will: pay in bricks lyeme 
boards [ ] or timber the some of . 
Hezekiah Usher: will pay 2 In English 
Goods or equivolent, twentye : poundes, 
prouiso : y 1 v market house bee Errected 
in .v marked place- & a Cunditt. 
W" Dauis will pay in goods & corne Fifteqne pounds 
provided y e market-house be eerected in v markett 
place & a conduitt also raised & Finished 

Thomas Buttolph 

•lames Penn ...... 

Jacob Sheat'e in provision & goods 

Tho: Lake h I" English-goods & h In provisions 

[saak Waker in English goods or provisions 

John Sunderline 3£ 

Robt: Pateshall, in planke or boards 

Thomas Matson .... 

John Williams 
Thomas Edsell 
Thomas Bligh 



t 

2—10—00 
10—00—00 pd 
10—00—00 pd 
010^=00—00 pd 
I0z=00— 00 
03—00—00 



12— 0—00 pd 
15 . 00 . 00 
10—00—00 pd 
03—00—00 pd 
05—00-00 pd 
02—00—00 pd 

05—00—00 pd 

005 :00 :00 pd 

02 0— 
05— on— on pd 
04—00—00 pd 

5— 0— pd 

03 lo 00 pd 
02 . lo 00 pd 

5 . oo—oi) pd 
5 :00— 00 pd 

lo—oo—oo pd 



20—00=00 pd 



15 — — 
O2-O0—00 
05—00—00 

12— 

09—00 :00 
03—no OQ 
03—00=00 
05 : 00 :00 
1— o— 
0—10 
00—10— o 
00—15 oo 



132 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 



paid Richard Gridley 










02—00—00 


paid John Button . 








05—00— 


Benjamin Negus 










James Eueritt in Flower 








01—00—00 


Kobt Batterly 








00—15—00 


paid John Coney ... 








00—15—00 


paid Samuel! Mattocke . 








no— 7—00 


paid Rich d Stanes .... 








00—10—00 


paid Rowland Story in Lewtenant Cook 


s hand 




ill Mil) :00 


paid Ri Wayte ... 








02—00—00 


paid Phillip Whorton 








02—00—00 


paid Augusten Clement . 








1_ o— 


paid Richard Woodde in provision [ 


] 






01— 0— 


paid John Phillips .... 








03— 0— 


paid Tho Emons .... 








1— 0— 


paid Thomas Littell thre dayes worke 








00-10— o 


Humphrey Bradshaw thre dayes worke 




00— 10— 


Joseph Bonde ten shilings by Samell Lemist 




00—10— 


George Bronie a bushel wheate 




00—04—00 


paid William Paddy 








12— 0— 


paid Henry Kemble 








00—10— 


paid Thomas Makepeace 








01 — oo . o 


paid Joshua Hewes 








oii—io— 


Ffrances Smith 








00 . lo—oo 


paid Francis Douse 








00— ()!)— 


paid John Pierce .... 








s4— 00 — 


paid Simon Eire .... 








1 . 10 . ii 


paid Comfort Starr 








01—00—00 


paid Henry Phillips 








05—00—00 


paid Henry Shrimpton Come wood 








10 — 00—00 


paid John Lowel .... 








03—00 00 


paid George Munioy three pounds 








06—00—00 


paid Jno. Joyliffe ..... 








03 . ni) . 00 


paid Amos Richardson .... 








02 :0!) . 00 


pd Edmond Grenleff .... 








o — io— 


pd Edward Porter 








1— 0— 


paid Nicholas Phillips .... 








0—10— (i 


pd Thomas Harwood . 








1— no— 


paid Thomas Brattle .... 








5— o_ 


paid Thomas Baker in Iron workes 








01—00— 


paid John Biggs in Shingle or worke 








002—00—OO 


paid Jo: Marshall in shoes 








01— 0— 


paid Henry Alline [ 








01— 00— oo 


paid Hugh Drury 










ni— 00 


paid John ( lollens . 










1_ o— o 


paid Thomas Scotto 










1_ o 


paid Nathanell Thorn 










in - 


paid John Pears 










1— 0— 


paid William Reade 










oo—io—oo 


paid Will. Tay 










00—10—00 


paid Jo". Blacklach 










01— oo_ 0,) 


paid John Clough . 










00—10—00 


paid Sam" Davice . 










00—05—00 


paid Samuell Cede . 










02—00—00 


paid < Ihristopher ( ribson 










O2—00—00 


paid Robert Nanney 










02 -00—00 


paid Henry Bridgham . 










10—00 no 


paid Thomas Waker 










12—10—00 



APPENDIX B. 



133 



paid 

paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 

paid 
paid 
paid 

pd 
paid 

paid 
pd 10s 
paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 



pd 



paid 
pd 



Nathanell Reynolls 

John Hawkines tobaco .... 

Arthur Masson ...... 

Ami ( !arter LOs . 

James Dauis by Tho: Joy 6s >v is more 

1 >aniel Turill ....... 

Thomas Fitch ...... 

Edmund Jacklin in glass or worke it' I lie in th 

contry when tin- house is to be glassed 
William Gibson ...... 

Jeremy < !astine ...... 

Edmund Jackson by Thomas Fay . 

.Mid Is Towne in lether ..... 

William English — in shoes .... 

Joseph Howe Twent; Shillings 

Samuel Norden in shoes .... 

Robert Nash in worke ..... 

Mathew Barnes — paid 1—9— 3 

Thomas Dewer ...... 

William I )orser ... . . 

Bartholomew < !heever 30 s . 

Henery Messenger — paid .... 

Will. Colburn in [ ] or provision paid 10s 
Edward Goodwin ...... 

James Johnson in his Comodityes . 
John Newgat promise to u - i \ *_■ five pound & i 
] the preveledg of our [ 



r 



paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 



Thomas Bumsted of Boston promis* 
Natha. Duncan .... 
Peter I )uncan ..... 

John John Wiswall .... 

Joseph Wise ..... 



01— OU III! 
(II — Oil — (10 

(Ml-— 10 — (HI ' 

00 — Id . on 
00 — in — 00 
01—00 — 00 
00—10—00 

01— I li I— Ol I 

mi — 05 — oo 
01—1)0—00 
01_00—00 
00— 5s — 00 
02—00—00 
ol— o_ o 
00—10— 
ol - 10—00 
1 — in — no 
01 — ho — 
00—10 — 

01 — 10— o 
0—10— 
:; . 00 00 
0— OG— 00 

02 : O 

10—00—00 
1 — 00—00 

2 _ 

1 — ln_ mi 

02— In— 

2—00—00 



APPENDIX B. 



VOTES AND Acts 1\ REGARD TO REBUILDING THE TOWN 
HOUSE AFTER THE FIRE IN 1711. 



To his Excellency' Joseph Dudley EsqrCapt General a Governourin Chief 
of Her Majestys Province of tin- Massachusetts Baj . the Honoble the < 'oun 
cil and the Representatives in General Court Assembled. 
October 17. 171 1. 

The Humble Representation and Addresse of the Select Men of the Town 
of Boston. 

May ii please your Excellencj 
and Honours 

Amidst the Awful! Desolation & Consumption of Many Dwellings & much 
of the Substance of this Town by the fiery dispensation of Providence, Ii is 



l;j| OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 



a particular humbling and Afflictive Article That the House for Publick Meet^ 
ings on Civic ( lecasions forthe Province, < lounty & Town, viz 1 for the Meeting 
of the Genera] Assembly, the Holding of Councils, & Courts of Justice, & 
Town Meetings, is new lying Waste in its Ashes. 

We accounl it our Duty to lay the Consideration thereof before your Ex- 
cellency & this Hono ble Assembly and humbly pray your Advice & Direction 
for the Restoring vv Rebuilding of the House for those Publick Uses & about 
the place where to se1 the same 

That what is most Honorable for the Government may be done therein. 

And Craue leaue to Subscribe 
Your Excellcy & I lonours 
Obedient humble Servants 
p Order and in the Nam.' of the s d Select Men 

Joseph Proi i Town ( 'lerk 

[n the House of Representatives October 22. 1711. Read & 

Ordered that Samuel Appleton Josiah Chapin Jn° Clarke James Warren 

Esqrs, Major Thomas Fitch ("apt Simon Davis & Capt. Samuel Phipps be a 

Committee to Joine with such as the Honoble Board shall appoint to Consider 

of this Addresse & Report their opinion of what is proper to be done tin-rein. 

Sent up for ( incurrence. 

,JoiiN Burrill, Speaker. 

Die pred : In Council 

Head and concurred. And Elisha Hutchinson Samuel Sewall Nathl 
Payne & Thomas Noyes Esqrs Named of the Committee for the affair afores d , 
Elisha Hutchinson Esqr to Appoint time & place 

Isaac Addington Secretary. 



The Above Committee Advise that there be a House built in or Near the 
place where the Old Town House Stood for the Uses mentioned in the Memo- 
rial as convenient as may be without incommoding the Street The breadth 
notto Exceede thirty six feet the length So as to be Convenient for the ends 
i in the Addresse That a Committee be Appointed by this Court to 
Take Care for the building us speedily \ prudently as may be The Charge 
thereof to be home the one half by the Province, the other half by the Town 
of Boston & County of Suffolk in equal proportion. 1 

By Order of Major part of the Committee 

Elisha Hutchinson. 



N"ov r 9 th 1711. In Council Read & sent down 
In the House of Representatives Nov 9 th . 1711. 
Read & Accepted with the Amendments. 



John Burrill Speaker. 



\ovcmhe r Id. 1711. In Council Read and Concurred 

And thai Elisha Hutchinson and Penn Townsend Esq™ with such as shall 
be Named by the Representatives be a committee for the affaair. The Com- 
mittee to Advise with his Exc x y & such skillfull Gentlemen they may think 
fitte to be consulted with about the Model of the House 

- tit down for Concurrence 1saa< ^ddingtoh Secretary. 

i \ ropy of tins report preserved by the Massachusetts Historical Society, i- printed in the 
City volume on the Dedication of ii" : present City Hall in 1865. There is on it this memoran- 
dum: " Note, That the House is for Publick Meetings on Civil Occasions : for the Province, 
County and Town, viz, for the Meeting of the General Assembly, the Holding of Councils 
and i lourls of Justice, and Town meeting. 



APPENDIX B 



i:;: 



In the House of Representatives 

Novemb r 10. 1711. Read \ Concurred And Addington Davenporl Sam 
Thaxter Esqr 9 & Capt. Phipps be Named for the office with libertie to the 



Town of Boston to Joine Two Persons More 



FOHN BuRRILL S] 



Agreed to & Consented to by Jos: Dcdli i 
Genera] ( Courts order for 
Rebuilding the Town House 
in Boston Novera' 1711 
Massachusetts Archives. Book 113. pp. 018 G19. 

In the House of Representatives 
Nov 9 th 1711. 

Resolved Thai the Sum ol fforty Pounds, be Allowed, oul of the publick 
Treasury to M r Benj a : Johns, for the use this ( lourt make- of Ins House, in a 
year, beginning tlu 17 th : Octo 1 lasl (if they improve ii so Ion?) Fifteen 
Pounds thereof to be now drawn out of the Treasury, the Remainder a- this 
Court shall order. 

Sent up fur Concurrence. John Burrill Speaket 

In Council 
Nov' 10 th 1711. 

Read and concurred 

Is A : A dding iM\ Sectr'y. 
Book -Is ,,. t2G 

Court Records, p. 244. Passed in House of Representatives, read and con- 
curred. 

Nov. 7 1712. 
Ordered that it he an Instruction to the Committee appointed to hjuild the 

Province & Court House that they fit the East Chamber for the Use of His 

Excellency the Governor ,v the Hon ble the Council, the Middle Chamber for 

the House, the West Chamber for the Sup' S Im Courts. 

Ordered that there he but two offices below stairs in the Province & ('nun 

House now Building in Boston one for the Secretary the oilier for the !; 

ter of Deeds in the ( lounty of Suffolk, consented to J. !>i dlei . 
In the House of Representatives. 

.March 21 : 1711. 
< >rdered That It he an Instruction to the ( !ommittee appointed to Build the 

Court House or Exchange in Boston, That Ii he not more than One Huadred 

& twelve, nor lesse than One Hundred & ten fleet in length. 

Sent up tor Concurrence. Jons Bi rrill Speaker 

111 ( 'nulled. 

March 21. 1711. p ,.,-, 

lead and < 'ulnail'I'M 

[s A A.»dingti in Secry 

A.1 a Council held at the Council Chamber in Boston upon Saturdav the 2;; ' 
of Au- list 1712. 

The Committee for overseeing the building of the ( lourl .\ Tom n House in 
Bost ih\ ing for a further supply of monej 

Advised & consented Thai a Warrant be made out to the Treasurer to 
advance & pay to M r William Payne id' the said Committee and deputed their 

treasurer the further su f Five hundred pounds over and above the Five 

hundred pounds already draw n ter at t \\ ice to he imploved for and about the 
-aid Building he to be accomptable for fhe disposal of it accordingly. 

Council Records, 1708 to 1712. page -Mis. 



136 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 



At a Council held at the Council Chamber in Boston upon Friday the 15 th 
February 1711. 

The Committee for the rebuilding of the Town & Court House in Boston 
now in hand with, proposing to have two hundred pounds advanced towards 
the s' 1 Building to be put into the hands of M r William Payne by them 
deputed a Treasurer for paying of the workmen &c. 

Pursuant to the Grant of the General Assembly, Advised & consented 
That a Warrant be made out to the Treasurer to advance and pay the sum of 
Two hundred pounds to the said M r Payne for the use aforesaid upon Ac- 
compt accordingly. Council Records, page 522. 

At a Council held at the Council Chamber in Boston upon Monday, the 
February 1711. 

An accompl of Disbursements by the Selectmen of Boston in repairs of 
the late Town House from Septemb 1 ' 5 th 1709 to the time of its desolation, 
amounting to Eleven pounds two shillings & one penny presented and 

Pursuant to the Act of the General Assembly, 

Advised & considered That a Warrant be made out thereupon to the 
Treasurer to pay Five pounds eleven shillings & one penny, i being one half 
of the a tores' 1 Disburse to the Town Treasurer of Boston. 

At a Council held at the Council Chamber in Boston upon Monday the 
29 th of December 1712. 

Present His Excellency Joseph Dudley Esq 1 " Gov 

Elisha Hutchinson W m Hutchinson Andrew Belcher Peter Sergeant Esq™ 
Penn Townsend Esq" 5 Edw d Bromfield Esq™ Isaac Addington Esq r . 

The Committee for overseeing the building of the Court & Town House in 
Boston moveing for a further supply of money for that occasion 

Pursuant to the Grant of the General Assembly. 

Advised & consented That a Warrant be made out to the Treasurer to ad- 
vance the further sum of Five hundred pounds (over & above One thousand 
pounds already issued by several Draughts) to M r William Payne of the 
said Committee & deputed their Treasurer to be employed for and upon the 
said Building, He to be accomptable fox the disposal of it accordingly. 

Council Records, page G39. 

At a Council held at the Council Chamber in Boston upon Monday the 6 th 
of April 1713. 

Pursuant to a Resolve pass'd by the General Assembly at their Session in 
March last, that the Treasu T be directed to supply the Treasurer of the Town 
of Boston with the sunt of Four hundred & fifty pounds in the public bills of 
credit to be applyed towards the carrying on & finishing the Town House or 
edifice now in building in Boston, as part of the Town's proportion of that 
charge, he taking good & sufficient security for the repaying of the s' 1 sum 
into the Treasury again on or before the twentveth day of February next 

Advised & consented That a Warrant he made out to the Treasurer to ad- 
vance & supply to M Joseph Front present Treasurer of the Town of Boston 
the aforesaid sum of Four hundred ,<: fifty pounds in Bills of publick credit 
for the use aforesaid taking good & sufficient security for the repayment of 
i in accordingly. Council Records, 1712 to 1718, page 21. 

\* a Council held ;it the Council Chamber in Boston upon Wednesday 
April 29 th L713. 

Present His Excellency Joseph Dudley Esq r . Governour &s. 

Pursuant to the vote id' the General Assembly at their Session in October 
1711 for the raising of a new edifice within the town of Boston in or near the 
place where the Town House stood before the desolation thereof by fire for 
Publick Meetings on civil occasions for the use id' the Province County & 
Town the charge thereof to be borne the one half by the Province the other 
half by the Town of Boston & county of Suffolk in equal proportion. 



APPENDIX 11 [37 

Advised S consented that a Warrant be made to the Treasurer to a 
& pay M r William Payne of the Committee for overseeing the Buildii 
the -' House -v deputed to their Treasurer the further sum of Five hundred 
pounds over & above what has been already advanced to him toward-- that 
work, he to be accomptable for the disposal of it accordingly. 

Council Records, 1712 to 1718, p. 32. 

At a Council held at the Council Chamber in Boston upon Wednesday the 

l':." 1 of .Inly 17i:'>. 

M r William Payne of the Committee for overseeing the building of the 
Court & Town House in Boston & deputed their Treasurer moving for a further 
supply id' money towards defreying the charge thereof 

Ulvised & consented That a Warrant be made out to the Treasurer to ad- 
vance & pay to the S ' William Payne of the ( 'ommittee & Treasurer as afoi < 
the further sum of Five hundred pounds for that service to he employed on 
& about the Building he to be accomptable for the disposal of it accordino-lv. 

Ibid. , page r> s . 

August 27, 1713. Accompt presented by M r W lu Payne of expenses in the 
Council chamber, where his Excell^ was attended by the Council officers 
civil & military and other Gent and on the Regiment under their arms attend- 
ing his Excellency on the 24 th of August currant at the Publication of the 

Peace between Her Majesty & the French King amounting to Fourteen 
pounds & eight shilling. 

Advised & consented to pay the above sum. Ibid., p. 86. 

March 10, 1713. 

Council Advised & consented to pay Mr. William Payne of the Committee 
for overseeing the Building of the Town House in Boston the sum of seventy 
one pounds nine shillings and five pence being the balance remaining due 
from the Province to their part of the charge for building s' 1 house according 
to the Report of the Committee for auditing the Accompts thereof accepted 
by the General Assembly. 

[bid., page 160. 

Town Records. Nov 16, 1711. Vol. 2., p. :;.'S:;. 

Voted. A Concurrence with the proposalls made by the Gen 1 Assembly 
\f building a House in or neer the place where the < lid Town House stood, 
for the uses therein Mentioned, with an addition of these word- [and all other 
Town affaires] as part of the uses thereof. 

Voted. That Thomas Brattle Esq r and m r William Payn be the persons 
nominated & Chosen by this Town to joyn w"' the committee liaised by the 
Gen" Court to manage that affair. 

Selectmen's minutes. Anno 1711 : Decern')'' 10 th p. 25. 

1. Thai Thomas Bratle Esq r , m r Josiah Tay, m rs Eliz" Maccarty & 
ei Eliz-' Powning shall be taken into Consideration in order to Satisfaction 
for their Houses w h were Blown up in order to Stop the progress of the fire 
w cl ' ha pencil in this Town y e 2-' of Oetob' Last. 

p. 26. Also .lames Meers, Martha Gwin, Sarah Dynly & Rich 1 ' Proctor. 
for their Houses being blown up. 
Thonr Brattle Esq. allowed Thirty Pounds. 
[saiaih Tay Thirty-five Pounds 

Bliz a . Maccarty Sixty " 

Eliz a Powning Thirty five 

.lames Meers I'u enty five " 

Marllia ( rwin Twenty five " 

Sa rah Dinely Ten " 

Richard I'm. -tor Ten " 



i;;S OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 



From the original, in the possession of the Massachusetts Historical 

Society.) 

"RELATING TO Y E TOWN HOUSE RENTS. READ MARCH 

10™ 1711-12." 

"Whereas the Rents reserved to the Town of Boston for several spare 
Rooms in, under, and Adjoyning to the late Town House beside all rooms 
made use of there for Publick Occasions, did according to the Rates they 
were Lett, or might have been Lett at amount to Eighty pounds P r annum. 

And the Great and Gen" Court of Assembly of this Province haveing lately 
directed, That there be a House built in or neer the place where the Old 
Town House stood, for Publick meetings on Civill Occasions, For Province 
County and Town, Viz'. For the Meeting of the Gen 11 Assembly. The holding 
of Councills and Courts of Justice and Town Meetings, the Charge thereof 
to be born the one halfe by the Province, the Other halfe by the Town of 
Boston and County of Suffolk in Equall proportion, unto which proposal the 
Inhabitants of Boston have Voted their Concurrance. 

And since there is prospect of as great if not greater improvem ts and advan- 
tage by such spare room in the s d new building now to be Erected, it may 
not lie unseasonable for the Inhabitants of this Town now to make Sutable 
provision to secure that priviledge and benefitt to them selves and their suc- 
cessors. 

And altho other Arguments might be of weight for their being so benefitted, 
Yet rather then forego and lose the same, May it not be adviseable for them 
to agree upon bearing some Additional Charge in y e s d building as an Equiva- 
lent, That so they may be thereby Effectually Intitulled to the benefit and 
improvement of all such rooms and spaices in under and adjoyning to the 
s d New building which shall be conveniently capable of being inclosed and 
Improved for distinct uses, and otherwise not needfull to be made use of for 
those afore mentioned intentions proposed by the Gen 11 Court, and thereby to 
Lessen the Charge of the Province, Town and County in their respective 
proportions as aforesaid. The which additionall charge, together with the 
Charge of Incloseing and fitting of shopps &c. there, may (if the town sees 
meet } to very good advantage to be defeayd out of that their money w ch is the 
Effects of Lands sold and in Equity ought to lie so layd out as to raise and 
perpetuate an income to the Town. 

And in case sutable Application be made to the Gen" Court on the behalfe 
of this Town relating to the premisies, under the consideration of their Ex- 
cessive growing Charge and Expences. & their so great a loss by the Late Fire 
& that the Late Town-House w ch was built at the ( !harge of \ ' [nhabitants of 
this Town was for neer fifty years past made use of for all Publick Occasions 
w^'out any other Charge to the Public then that for some of the Later years 
tiny have born part of y Charge ofy c Repaires. 

And that the Town of Boston being th«' true ami proper Owners of all that 
Land on w 1 ' 1 ' the said New building is now to lie erected. It is presumed thai 
they will readily agree unto so just and reasonable a proposal. 

Proposed By Joseph Prout Head at V begining of v' Town meeting v 10 th 
of March 1711-12. 



APPENDIX C. L39 



APPEXDIX C. 



PAPERS RELATING TO THE REBUILDING OF THE TOWN 
HOUSE IN 1747. 

In the House of Representatives DeC 9, 1717. 

Ordered that the Select Men of the Town of Boston be desired to take care 
of the Materials belonging to the late Court House which are preserved from 
the Flames. 

Sent up for concurrence 



[n Council Dec 9. 1747 Read & Concurr'i 
Consented to 



T. Hutchinson Spkr. 



J. Will.vki) Secy 



\V. Shirley 
Massachusetts Archives, Book 49. p. 204 

In the House of Representatives Dec. 9. 1717. 

The House taking into further consideration the awful Providence of God 
this Morning in the destruction of the Court House and great part of the 
publick Records by Fire. 

Ordered that the Speaker Col Stoddard Col Heath Col Choate M r Frost 
(apt Partridge and Col Otis with such as the Hon ble Board shall Joyn, be a 
Committee to Consider and Report what is necessary to be done by the Court 
at this Juncture. 

Sent up for concurrence 

T. Hutchinson Spkr 

In Council Dee 1 9. 1717. Read & Concurred, 
& Josiah Willard, Sam 1 W alley, John Gushing, John Quincy, John ( 'handler 
& And" ((liver Esq™ are joined in y Affair 

J. Wili.ahi) Secy. 
Book 49. p. 205. 
Committee to provide boards for 
the Court I Louse Walls 
Dec. 10 1747. 
Entered 
In the House of Representatives Dec. 11, 1747. 

Ordered that M' Frost with such as the Hon ble Board shall Joyne be directed 
to Contract for sixty thousand feet of Boards forty thousand of them Mer- 
chantable and twenty thousand (dear for the Service of the \'m\ ince and 

\No three thousand feet of one Inch and half (dear Stuff and three thousand 
I- i i of Stuff for Window Frames 

Sent up for concurrence 

T. Hutchinson Spkr. 

[n Council December 1 I' 11 1717. Read and Concurr'd and John Hill Esq" 
Is Jovneil in the Affair 

J. Willard Secry 
Book 49. p. 206. Consented to W. Shirley. 



140 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION 



In the House of Representatives Dec' Ll th 1747 

Ordered that the Select Men of Boston be desired and impowered to Secure 
the Walls of the late Court House from the inconveniences of the Weather by 
Causing the same to be covered with Hoards in the best and cheapest manner 

Sent up for concurrence 

T. Hutchinson S|>kr 
In Council Dec' 11 1717 Read and Concurr'd 

J. Willard Secrj 

Book 49. p. 207. 
In the House of Representatives .March 3, 1717 

Ordered that Col Hale Col Otis M r Boardman M r Fore and M' Hub- 
bard with such as the Hon 1 ' 1 Board shall appoint be a Committee to Consider 
and Report a proper place in the Town of Boston for building a New Courl 
House 

Sent up for concurrence 

T. Hutchinson Spkr. 
In Council March 3. 1747. 

Read & Concur'd And Jacob Wendell. Samuel Danforth, Sam 1 Watts, John 
Chandler, & Ezekiel Chever Esq rs . are joined in the Affair 

J. Willard Secry 

Hook 49. p. 510 
In the House of Representatives 9 March 1717 

Voted that the late Court House in the Town of Boston be Repaired as soon 
as conveniently may he & that one half the Charge thereof be borne by the 
Province the other half by the County of Suffolk & the Town of Boston 

Sent up for concurrence 

T. Hutchinson Spkr. 
In Council, March 9, 1747: Read & Concur'd, 

J. Willard Secry 
( Jonsented to 

W. Shirley 

Book 49, p. 211 
In the House of Representatives March 11, 1717. 

Whereas it has been determined by this Court that the late Court House 
should be repaired, and that one half the Charge should he horn by the Coun- 
ty of Suffolk and the Town of Boston, but the proportion between the County 
and Town is not settled by said vote. 

Resolved that one quarter part of the Charge of repairing s a House be born 
by the said County, and one quarter part by said Town. Also voted thai M 
Speaker M r Hubbard anil M r Allen with such as the Hon ble Board shall Joyn 
he a Comm ee to Purchase and Procure proper Materials to Effect the repair of 
said House agreeable to the vote of the 10 th Curr 1 . Also to Prepare a Plan of 
the Inside Work tint the room may be so dispos'd as will be must beneficial 
to the Province County anil Town. And that they Lay the same before this 
Court, with an Estimate of the Charge at their next sitting- 
Sent up for concurrence 

T. Hutchinson spkr. 

In Council: Mar. in. 1717; Read & Concur'd <S Jacob Wendell & Andrew 
Olliver Esq™, are Joined in the Affair 

.!. Willard Secrj . 
i lonsented to, 

W. Siiini i i 

Book 19. 212, 213. 

The Committee appointed the 11 Ins 1 to procure Materials to effect the Re- 
pairs of the Court House & to prepare a Plan & make an Estimate oi the 

Charge, have divers times met & consulted Workmen thereupon : and beg 
leave to report 



vitkndix i in 



TYi.it in obedience to the order of the rIon b1 ' General Court, they have 
taken measures for procuring the Lumber needful for this purpos 
actually agreed for a great part of it. 

The Committee herewith present a Plan of the inside Work, which they 
apprehend will be the most commodious *.<- best answer the design ol 
Building; and upon the best information they can obtain they judge that the 
said Repairs "ill amount to Eighteen thousand One hundred & tour Pounds 
old ten 1 ' as by the Estimate herewith, all which is humbly submitted. 

Jacob Wendell bj order 
March 31 : 1748 

In Council April 7. 1717. Read & sent down. 
In the House of Representatives 12 th April 17 Is 

Read and Ordered that the Committee be directed to Proceed & cause the 
Court House to be rebuilt agreeable to the Plan laid before the Court with 
this Report. 

Sent n]i tor concurrence 

T. Hutchinson Spkr 
In Council April 13, 1748; Read & Concur'd 

J. Willard Secrj 

< 'onsellted to 

W. Shirlei . 

Rook 4'.). pp. 21 1. 21.".. 

In the House of Representatives April 8. 1848 

Voted that the Treasurer be directed to Pay into the bands of the Com- 
mittee for purchasing Materials for building a Court House the Sinn of One 
hundred pounds out of the Appropriation for payment of matters & things for 
which there is no Establishment. The said Comm ee to be accountable 

Sent up for concurrence 

T. Hutchinson, Spkr 

In Council April :>' . 1748. Read & Concur'd 

.1. Willard Secry. 
( 'onsented to 

W Shirley. 

Hook 411. p. 216 

In the House of Representatives dune L5 1748 

Voted that the Committee app ted to take care of the rebuilding the Court 
House be allowed to receive out ot the publiek Treasury the Sum of fifteen 

hundred pounds to Enable them to Proceed in that affair. The said c 

mittee to be accountable. 

Senl up for concurrence 

T Hi Ti iiiN-.>\ Spkr 
In Council dune l.", L748 Mead and Concurr'd 

• I . W [llae i' Si 
( 'onsented to 

W. Shirley. 

Hook r.t. p 228 

In the House of Representatives Nov' 22. L748 

Ordered that the Sum of fifteen Hundred pounds be paid out of the Treasury 
into the hands of the Comm" app ted to take care of the repairs of the Town 
House &c. They to be accountable 

Sent up for concurrence 

T. Hi rcmNSON Spkr. 
In Council Nov. 22. 1748 Read & Concur'd 

.1. Willard Si 
Consented to 

W. Shirlei 

19. p 2:;- 



142 <>LI) STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

To The Him 1,1, • Spencer Phips Esq"": Leiv 1 Governour and Commander in 
cheif in and over his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Lay in New Eng- 
land, To the Hon 9 his .Majesty's Council, and to the Honb 1 the House of 
Representatives in General Courl Assembled, 
The Petition of Abigail Halyburton of Boston Widow, humbly sheweth, 
That in the year 1747 when the Court House was consumed by Fire, his 
Majesty's Council took a Room in the House she had hired of .Madam Stod- 
dard, for which she did not intend to trouble your Honour and this Hon We 
Courl about, but on her Settling her Accounts of Kent with said Mad™ Stod- 
dard lately she had obliged her to pay Thirty four Pounds old Tenor for the 
Rent of that House, when she had no other Improvement for it than for his 
Majesty's Council to sit in as aforesaid, your Memorialist begs leave further to 
represent, that at the same Time at Col Pollard's request she was at about 
Eight Pounds old Tenor costs for Forms for the Council Use, and she has 
had no Allowance for either Forms, or Rents therefore she prays your Honours 
to take the Premises into consideration & make her such Allowance as you in 
your greal Wisdom shall think proper and as in Duty bound shall ever 
pray 

Abigaill IIallyim i: i on 

Book 49. p. 262. 

In the House of Representatives Jan v 10 1749 

Head and Ordered that the Prayer of the Pet nr be so far granted as that the 
Pet 1 be allowed out of the publick Treasury the Sum of three pounds in full 1 
for the Use of her House which was improved in the Service of the Province 
when the late Court House was Consumed by fire. 

Sent up for concurrence 

J. 1 >wight Spkr. 

In Council Jan. 10. 1749 Read and Concur'd 

J. WiLi.ARi) Secry 
( lonsented to 

s. Phips. 

p. 263. 
In the House of Representatives. Jan v . 26 1749 

Ordered that the Treasurer be directed to deliver the Committee appointed 
to take care of the repairs [of] the Townhouse &c the Sum of One thousand 
pounds Lawful Money to he by them paid to the workmen &c Who have per- 
form'd that Service 

The said ('uiiiiii"' to be accountable for their doings to this Court. 
Sent up for concurrence 

Tho s Hubbard Spkr pro Tempore 



In Council -Ian. 26, 1749; Lead & Concur'd 
I lonsented to 



J. WlLLARD Secry. 

S. runs 
Look 49, p. 264. 



In the House of Representatives March .".l l7.">n 

Ordered that the Committee appointed to take care of the Repairs of the 

Court House he directed to lav their Accounts upon the Table as soon as may 

be 

Senl lip for concurrence 

Tim- Hi bbard, Spkr pro Tempas. 
In Council March 3] 1 750 

Head and Concurred Sam] HoLBROOK Hep' 1 Secry 

( lonsented to 

S. Phips. p. 266. 

i As it m unda old tenor to make en,- pound sterling, the Council probably 

paid in full.- W. II. \V. 



WTKMHX C. 1 |!i 



In ilic House of Representatives April 19, L750 
( )rdered thai the Sum of Sixty Six pounds thirteen shillings and foui 
be allowed & p d oul of the public!? Treasury to the Committi 
the Town House &e in consideration of their time X trouble in takiny care of 
said Repairs &c. to be equally proportion 1 among them. 
Sent up for concurrence 

T I [ubb u;i> Spkr pro Tt mpore 
In Council April 19. 1750 Read iS Concur'd 

S \mi. I [olbkook 1 >3 Secr^ 
( lonsented to 

S. 1'llliv- 

Book id. p. 277. 

At a Greai & General Court or Assembly for his Majesty's Province of the 
Massachusetts Bay in New England, began & held at Boston upon Wednesday 
thirtieth day of .May 1750, being called by his Majesty's Writts. 

Friday ( >cto r . 5. L750 

In the House of Repres ves . Whereas the Charge of building the Town 
House in Boston was by the General Court ordered to be paid, one half b) 
the Province, one quarter part thereof by the Town of Boston & the other 
quarter part thereof by the County of Suffolk, & it has been resolved by the 
General Court that the said Town & County shall pay the same proportion in 
the late Repairs thereof, the whole Charge of which Repairs amounts to 
thirty seven hundred & five pound eleven shillings & four pence Lawful 
money ; 

Wherefore Ordered that the Town of Boston aforesaid pay into the 
Province Treasury Nine hundred twenty six pounds seven shillings & ten 
pence, being one quarter part of the Charge of said Repairs: And the 
Province Treasurer is hereby ordered & directed to proportion the Sum of 
Mine hundred& twenty six pounds seven shillings & ten pence, to and among 
the Towns in the County of Suffolk, according to the Proportion which each 
Town in said County bore, one to the other, in the last Province Tax ; And 
the Treasurer is further Ordered to give out his Warrants to the Assessors of 
the Town of Boston for the year 1751) requiring them to Assess the Sum of 
Nine hundred twenty six pounds seven shillings & ten pence on the Polls <S 
Estates in the said Town of Boston, according to the Direction of the lasl 
Province Tax Act, <S also to give out his Warrants to the Assessors of the 
several Towns in said County of Suffolk, requiring them to assess on Tolls & 
Estates in their respective Towns their proportionable Parts of the said sum 
of Nine hundred & twenty six pounds seven shillings & ten pence by the 
>ame Rule aforesaid : And the said Treasurer & the Assessors aforesaid, and the 
Collectors and Constables to whom the Assessment for the Tax aforesaid 
shall be committed, he & hereby are fully impowered & directed to act in their 
respective offices for the enforcing the Payment of said sums into the Province 
Treasury on or before the lasl daj of .March next, in all respects, as by the 
Law of this province, said Officers are impowered to do for the enforcing the 
Paj ments of Province Taxes. 

in ( 'ouncil : Read & Non Concur'd 

A true ( 'opv as of Record 

Attest 1 Sami Holbrook I > Se< rj , 
Book 19. p. 298. 

Dec. 9. 1747. In the House of Representatives, 

Ordered that M 1 Frost, Cap'. Partridge & Col . Otis with such as the 

Hon ble . Board shall appoinl be a C mittee to inquire after x secure anj 

Books Records & Paper- that maj have Keen preserved from the Flames 
which consumed the Court House this morning. 

In Council Read X Concur'd ; and Josiah Willard, Samuel Welles & Andrew 
Oliver Esq 1 are joined in the Affair. Court Records p. 273 274. 



144 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 



In the House of Representatives. Ordered thai the Selectmen of Boston 
be desired & impowered to secure the Walls of the late Court House from 
the Inconveniences of the Weather by causing them to be covered with 
Hoards in the best & cheapest manner. In Council, Head & Concur'd. Con- 
sented to by the Governour. 

p: 278 

March 2, 1747. [i.e., 1747-48.] 

His Excellency sent the following Message to the House by the Secretary, 
viz 1 

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives 

At the beginning of this Session I recommended to you the making Provi- 
sion for a Court House, I was in hopes the Inconvenience you suffer in your 
ent Situation would have prompted you to have given Dispatch to this 
Ml'iir. but perceiving it is still delayed, I must desire you to resume the Con- 
sideration, lest the General Court shou'd be put to the same Difficulties an- 
other Winter. 

p. o05. 

April l:i. 171s. Jacob Wendell Esq r . from the Committee appointed to 
take ( 'are of the rebuilding of the Court House gave in the following Report, 
viz 1 . 

The Committee appointed the 10 th of March last to procure Materials to 
effect the Repairs of the Court House, & to prepare a Plan, & make an Estimate 
of tlie Charge have divers times met & consulted Work men there upon & lie- 
Leave to Report, — That in Obedience to the Order of the Hon 1 ' 1 '. General 
Court they have taken Measures for procuring the Lumber needful fortius 
Purpose, & have actually agreed for a great part of it. 

The Committee herewith present a Plan of the Inside Work which they 
apprehend will he the most commodious, & best answer the Design of the 
Building; And upon the best Information they can obtain they .Indue that 
the said Repairs will Amount to Eighteen thousand, one hundred & four 
1 'nun. I> old Tenor, as by the Estimate herewith. 

March 3,1, 1748 

All which is respectfully submitted 

Jacob Wendell 

p r order 

In the House of Representatives. Read & Ordered that the Committee be 

directed to proceed, & cause the Court House to be rebuilt, agreeable to the 
Plan laid before the Court with this Report. 
In Council ; Read & ( 'oneur'd 

Consented to by the Governo r . 

( ourt Records, p. 330. 

April 23 171s. In the House of Representatives. 

Voted that the Treasurer be directed to pay into the hands of the Com- 
mittee for rebuilding the late Court House, the Sum of Five Hundred Rounds, 
such sum to he taken of the Appropriation where there is no Establishment: 
The said CoiunC . to be Accomptable, 

In Council; Read & Concur'd. Consented to by the Governour. 

p. 345 

April I'n. 1749. In the House of Representatives. Ordered that the Sum 
of Twelve Hundred & fifty Pounds be paid out of the Publick Treasury to 
the Committee appointed to effect the Repairs of the Court House in Boston, 
the said Committee to be accountable. 
In Council; Read & Concur'd 

Consented to by the Governour 

p. 477. 



APPENDIX 1). 1 j."i 



April 25. 1751. In the House of Representatives: 

Whereas the Charge of building the Town House in Boston was by the 
General Court ordered to be paid one half by the Province, one Quarter pari 
thereof by the Town of Boston, and the other Quarter part thereof by the 
County of Suffolk, And it has been Resolved by the General Court thai the 
said TownS County shall pay the same Proportion in the- Ian- Repairs thereof : 
The whole Charge of which Repairs amounts to thirty seven hundred five 
Pounds eleven shillings & four pence Lawfull Money: Wherefore 

Ordered thai the Town of Boston aforesaid pay into the Province Treas- 
ury nine hundred twenty six Pounds seven shillings & ten pence booing 
One Quarter part of the Charge of Said Repairs, And that the Count) of 
Suffolk pay into the Province Treasury Nine hundred Twenty six Pounds 
seven shillings &tenpence being also one Quarter part of the Charge of said 
Repairs, and the Province Treasurer is hereby Ordered & directed to propor- 
tion the Sum nf Nine hundred twenty six Pounds seven shillings & ten pence 
to & among the Towns in the County of Suffolk, according to the Proportion, 
which each Town in said County bears one to another in the present valuation. 

And the Treasurer is further ordered to give his Warrants to the Assessors 
of the Town of Boston, for the year 1750, requiring them to assess the Sum 
of Nine hundred twenty six Pounds eleven shillings & Ten pence on the Polls 
& Estates in the said Town of Boston, according to the Direction in the present 
Valuation, and also to give out his Warrants to the Assessors iff the several 
Towns in said County of Suffolk, requiring them to assess on Pulls & Estates 
in their respective Towns their proportionable part of s d Sum of Nine hun- 
dred twenty six Pounds seven shillings & ten pence by the same Rule afore- 
said. And the said Treasurer & the assessors aforesaid & the Collectors & 
Constables, to whom the Assessment fm- the Tax aforesaid shall be committed 
be & hereby are fully impowered& directed to act in their respective Offices, 
for theEnforcing the Payment of said Sums into the Province Treasury on or 
before the last day of .March next in all Respects as by the Law of tin- 
Province said Officers are impowered to do for enforcing the Payment of 
Province Taxes. 

In Council Read & Concur'd Consented to by the Lieu' Govern 1 ". 

page :'<.'t7. 



APPENDIX D. 



THE LION and THE UNICOKN. 

( See n nt' , p. ' ■ 

Iii delivering this address, reference was made to the Lion and 
Unicorn, which adorned the eastern front of the building, as 
•• Royal Ann>." and the words were retained, though not techni- 
cally correct. Correctly speaking, there are no arms shown on the 
building; tin- two wooden figures being only the supporters of ;i 
shield whose outline only is indicated. The first question to con- 



14(3 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 



sidcr in deciding what this shield would naturally he, is, " Does 
the use of the Lion and Unicorn, as supporters, necessarily imply 
the presence of the arms of Great Britain, or of the ruling fam- 
ily?" The answer must be in the negative. For example, good 
authorities state thai the Dukes of Northumberland long used 
these supporters. The fad more to the point is. that they were 
often used in connection with the arms of various colonies In 
September, 1686, King James II. granted to the New England 
Colonies, then governed hy Andros, a great seal, both sides of 
which are shown in the annexed engravings. 




In the following year King James granted a sea] to New York, 
one side bearing the Royal Arms, with the Garter Crown Support- 
ers and Motto, with the inscription. •• Sigillum Provinche Nostra 1 
Novi Eboraci, etc.. in America." (Historical Mag., April. 1862.) 
It is believed thai similar grants were made toother colonies, es- 
pecially to New Hampshire. 

[Jnder the Second Charter of Massachusetts a change was neces- 
sary, as that provided for a " publique sea) to lie appointed by the 



UTKN!)I\ 1 1 



11' 



Crown." The followiug engravings show the two diffcrenl forms 
which this seal assumed from A.D. 1692 to ill'' Revolution : — 








It has not seemed worth while to push this inquiry as to the 
exacl dates of the first and last use of each form ; bul Mr. Thomas 
('. Amory, in a carerui essay printed in the Proceedings of the 
Massachusetts Historical Society for December, 1867, thinks thai 
the second form came into use about September. 172-s, when the 
Supplemental Charter of George I. came into effect. At the ac- 
cession of George III. the seal was changed in respect to his 
name, but nol otherwise. Of course this seal ceased to be used 
at the Revolution. 

It will be seen, however, that for some fifty years the seal of 
Massachusetts was a shield of the Royal Arms, with the Lion and 
Unicorn for supporters, and an inscription denoting that )he\ 
were used for and in behalf of the Province. In the interesting 
painter's bill, printed {ante, p. 64), it appears thai within the 
building were carved representations of the Colom Arm- as dis- 
tinct from the King's Arms. Although no specimen is now known 
of these Colony Ann-, it cannot be doubted that the} were the 
same as i hose on the ( ! real Seal. 



148 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

It is. therefore. at leasl as probable thai these supporters would 
imply the Province eoat-of-arms, as the Royal Arms. But in 
reality there was no distinction between them, and it would seem 
to be an unnecessary stretch of fancy to insist upon seeing in 
these inoffensive wooden images a reminder of British rule, rather 
than of the glorious Provincial Government, that precursor and 
creator of our later free State. 

So lone' as the emblems have at least an equal claim to lie 
viewed as Provincial insignia, and especially as it would be impos 
sible to use any other heraldic ornaments to denote that period, 
there seem to lie sound grounds for us to retain these figures. 

As to their removal by our forefathers, it is necessary to say 
only that, at that date, such an act had a meaning. It was the 
visible token of the revolt against royalty, and was. therefore, 
right and proper. But now that republicanism is established, and 
the continuance of royalty even in Europe is so problematical, no 
one can fear the result of showing to the world this evidence of 
our former condition. The loyalty of our people t<> their chosen 
form of government does not depend upon any falsification of 
history. The Lion and the Unicorn were the property of our an- 
cestors in this country, and we have the right to use them in any 
place where their presence is instinctive. 

The date of the removal of these figures has not been definitely 
ascertained. The note on p. 93 makes it probable that they did 
not remain later than July 18, 1776; but, as the American troops 
occupied the town four months earlier, the change may have taken 
place before this. The destruction of royalist emblems was not 
-.p extensive as the new-paper asset ts. since the King's Arras were 
removed from the Council Chamber by loyalists, and sent to 
St. John. N.B., where- they now decorate a church: and the 
similar carving from the Province House is now in the possession 
of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and is, temporarily, 
placed on exhibition in the Old State House. 



APPENDIX E. ] J.g 



APPEXDLX E. 



FANEUIL HALL. 

As Faneuil Hall has been so intimately connected with the his- 
tory of Boston, it seems proper to insert a short account of the 
building, and especially to point out the changes which it has ex- 
perienced, as the comparison with the Old State House, on the 
point of genuineness, will not be to the discredit of the latter. 

As is well-known. Peter Faneuil, in 1740, offered to build and 
present to the town a market-house. On July 17th. at a town 
meeting, a vote of thanks for the offer was unanimously passed, 
but the acceptance was carried only by a majority of seven votes 
m a total of 727, so wedded were our ancestors to their old ways 
of marketing. 

Sept. 10, 1742, Mr. Samuel Ruggles, who was employed in 
building the market-house, delivered over the key to the select- 
men, and on the 13th a town meeting was held. On motion of 
John Jeffries, Esq., the following vote was passed: — 

•'Whereas, information was given to this town at their meeting 
in July, 1740, that Peter Faneuil. Esq., had been generously 
pleased to offer at his own proper cost and charge, to ereel and 
build a noble and complete structure or edifice, to be improved for 
;| market, for the sole use. benefit and advantage of the Town, 
provided the town of Boston would pass a vote for that purpose 
and lay the same under such regulations as shall be thought nec- 
essary, and constantly supporl it for the said use. 

•• And, whereas, at the said meeting it was determined to accept 

of the oiler or proposal aforesaid : and also voted thai the select- 
men should be desired to wan upon Peter Faneuil, Esq., and to 



L50 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

present the thanks of the Town to him, and also to acquainl him 
that the town have by their vote come to a resolution to accept 
oC his generous offer of erecting a market-house on Dock square, 
according to his proposal. 

• k And. whereas, Peter Faneuil, Esq., has in pursuance thereof, al 
;i very great expense, erected a noble structure far exceeding his 
first proposal, inasmuch as it contains not only a large and suffi- 
cient accommodation for a Market place, but has also superadded 
i spacious and most beautiful Town Hall over it, and several other 
convenient rooms which may prove very beneficial to the town for 
offices, or otherwise: and the said building being now finished, 
has delivered possession thereof to the Selectmen, for the use of 
the town. It is. therefore, 

■• Voted, that the town do with the utmost gratitude, receive and 
accept this most generous and noble benefaction, for the uses and 
intentions they are designed for; and do appoint the Hon. Thomas 
Cushing, Esq., the Moderator of tins meeting, the Hon. Adam 
Winthrop, Edward Hutchinson, Ezekiel Lewis. Samuel Waldo. 
Thomas Hutchinson, Esquires; the Selectmen and Representatives 
of the town of Boston, with the Hon. Jacob Wendell, dames 
Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, ('apt. Nathaniel Cunningham, Peter 
Chardon, and Charles Ap thorp, Esquires, to wait on Peter Fan- 
euil, Esq.. in the name of the Town, to render him their most 
hearty thanks for so bountiful a gift; with their prayers that 
this and other expressions of his bounty and charity may be 
abundantly recompensed with the divine blessing," 

■• It was then voted unanimously that, in testimony of the Town's 
gratitude to the said Peter Faneuil. Esq., and to perpetuate his 
memory, the Hall over the market plac< he named Faneuil Hall, 
to Ih- .-it all times hereafter called and known by that name. 

• A- a further testimony of respect it was voted that Mr. Fan- 
euil's picture be drawn at full length at the expense of the town, 
and placed in the Hall, and the Selectmen were charged with the 




fM 



V.PPENDIX E. ].~j 

commission, which was accordingly executed. " (Snow's Hist, of 
Boston, p. 234 . ) Ma fdi 1 1 . 1711. the town voted to purchase the 
Faneuil anus, elegantly carved and gilt, by Muses Deshou, to be 
fixed in the Hall. 

On Tuesday, January 13, 1 7 < "» l . during a spell of extremely 
colli weather, a fire broke out in one of the shops opposite the 
north side of Faneuil Hall, and consumed the row of wooden 
buildings there. The tin' "communicated itself to thai statelj 
edifice, Faneuil Hall Market, the whole of which was entirely con- 
sumed, except the brick walls, which are left standing." The 
"'records and papers, with such other things as could be con- 
veniently removed, were mostly saved." The first meeting at 
Faneuil Hall after it was repaired was on March 14, L763 
when Jaines (Mis. Jr., delivered an address. Some slight alter- 
ations were made in some parts of the work, but the size of 
the building remained the same. (Snow's Hist., p. 247.) 

The two views here given, one from the Massachusetts Maga- 
zine for March, 1789, and the other, from Snow's History in 1826, 
show the Revolutionary building and the present one. The white 
lines in Snow's view indicate the proportion of old material in the 
existing Hall. In 1805 the enlargement was made doubling the 
width of the building and adding a third story. The first Hall 
was calculated to hold one thousand persons, but, as we have 
noted before, whenever a large town meeting was held it adjourned 
to the Old South Church for additional room. 



152 0LD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION". 



APPENDIX F. 



City Hall, Boston, Oct. 1, 1882. 
Alderman William Woolley, Chairman of the Committee in 
charge of the Restoration of the <>/<! stair House: — 

Deak Sir, — In the reconstruction and restoration of any 
structure it will Ik- understood that the result must largely 
depend upon the knowledge at hand of its original character. 

In (lie case of the Old State House, to ascertain this was not 
altogether an easy tusk, but with the aid of Mr. W. II. Whit- 
more, an active member of your committee, and who was en- 
tirely familiar with its early history, much of the difficulty was 
overcome in the start. The following is an authentic statement 
of thi' evidences which were found of the original condition of the 
old building, and which have determine'd the work of restora- 
tion. 

In order to ascertain if there were any hidden traces left of 
the original interior, a careful carpenter was first employed to 
make a thorough examination: this work was carried on for 
more than four weeks, under the immediate observation of Mr. 
Whitmore and myself: several important indications were thu> 
brought to light; in fact, the exact location of all the original 
partitions of the second story was determined: upon removing 
the plastering, the outline of the original partition caps was 
found, which had been cut in between the old furrings. Also, 
corresponding indications were found upon the old under-tloors, 



APPENDIX F. 



153 



which, by the way, had been covered a1 different periods by two, 
: "" 1 '» some places by three, upper or finish-floors. These in- 
dications upon the original under-floors also gave me the posi- 
[io " of all the doors, their thresholds being clearly defined by 
openings directly through the under floor, us in the case of 
thresholds in old buildings of that date. 

Bui the most important developmenl of all was th e opening 
up of the original framing in the second floor around the 
circular stair.-as,.. as represented in the accompanying diagram. 
There was one mysterious circumstance in connection with 
this framing, —the centre of the circular gallery of the 
staircase was found to he one foot from the centre of the 
circular hall surrounding it. when they would both he natu- 
'' :,ll . v dra ^n from one centre. This was explained, however, in 
g°°3 ''»"'• by the fortunate discovery of the original plans of 
the building, they having been found by Mr. Whitmore 1 :it Cin- 
cinnati: the reason of the difference in the two centres was at 
once apparent, it having been purposely .arranged to equalize a 

regrel that Mr. Clough, writing at a time when there was no contr, 
used a phrase capable of misconstruction. The plans mentioned were those used bj [saiah 
rs.the architectof the renovation of tin- building in 1830. They were found in the 
Bion of his family, and are of the greatest interest and value as being the only plans 

kn..w„ to exist which show the state of the building then. No earlier plan has yet i n 

found. 

The discussion of the meaning of the plans will be found in a later appendix, in the 
meantime the reader « i;l note thai the report of Mr. Clough, brings out much new testimony 

as t,, ihr original shape of the r -. 

A -''"•" deal of adverse criticism has been wasted on the question ol authority for the 
■ration. Words and phrases have been distorted, as if a printed statement, taken 
'I'd to its context, must be beyond suspicion of error, and incapable oi , 
Such criticismsmaj be I aining as intellectual exercises ; but they become v. 

Iess when ""'>' (l "' "" ,h >* sought. In the present case, Mr. Clough, an architect of 
■wledged skill, had an opportunity which his critics lacked, to see and examine the 
-ik of this building, stripped from modern additions, and before il was again covered 
s finish. His opinion is given in plain lan.!.:.--. and is to be considered, 

udy of all the evidence before him. 
fter the opinion of an expert has been thus obtained, based upon the careful examination 

"' wal]B ' """ rs > li !r8 . •""' window spaces as thej exist, .a, adverse criticism founded on 

""'''"'' ' apsgleaned fi a \ any importai 

w. ii. w. 



\,~)4: OLD STATE BOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

certain amount of room gained through a peculiar manner of 
terminating the staircase on the second-floor landing. 

The plan of the interior having- been determined, and the 
nature of the accommodations, next came the treatment of finish, 
and the character of the architecture. Sketches and a careful 
study were at once made of all the buildings erected in this 
vicinity, of about the date of the Old State House ; among them, 
several dwellings at the North End, Christ Church, Hancock 
House, King's Chapel, Royall House at Medford, the Gov. 
Shirley House at Roxbury, several public and private buildings 
at Salem, Newburyport, and Portsmouth were carefully exam- 
ined. With these studies and the several wood-cuts and litho- 
graphic plates of the old building itself, dating from the days of 
Paul Revere down (he having made the first engraving), together 
with existing pieces of wood mouldings found about the interior, 
such as pieces of cornices, bases of the pilasters, pieces of old 
wood mantles, and wood wainscoting connecting with the same, 
besides the position of all the old wood grounds upon the brick 
walls, giving the heights of the cornices, wainscoting, etc., a 
very definite idea was formed of the treatment of the interior 
wood finish; also much of the new work that was required about 
the exterior, including the balcony at the State-street end and 
the restoration of the Washington-street door. 

In restoring the windows of the building the number of panes 
of glass in each window was determined by an oil painting, made 
about A. D. 1805, which is in the possession of the Massachusetts 
Historical Society. 1 The muntins of the sashes are different 
from those found in any other building of that period, and are 
a reproduction from the window of the second story, opening 
upon the balcony at the State-street end. Although the use of 

1 The engraving of tin- picture will be found ante, \>. 101. 



APPENDIX F. Loo 

this peculiar thin muntin excited a greal deal of criticism in 
the public press, it was not decided upon finally, until after 
u careful examination of this window had been made by many 
leading architects and builders, especially those who had given 
attention to this colonial style, and it had been definitely deter- 
mined that this was the original window. In fact, but little 
doubt of it-- original character could exist, since the frame of 
this window, like all the other windows about the building, 
was limit solid into the walls and extending hack of the same, 
oa tin' two sides and across the top, at least four inches; the 
window and side lights were glazed with crown glass, which 
has not been in use for the last eighty years; the hinges were 
of wrought iron, secured with wrought nails, and the fastening 
was by an old brass latch with egg-shaped handles each 
side. 

The work of restoring the exterior was not of a difficult 
nature, the brick moulded belt courses were easily continued 
where they had been removed, and the walls of the first story 
of the Washington and State street ends, which had been taken 
away for modern improvement, to (it the building for business 
purposes, were easily replaced with window openings like those 
above. 

The main cornice was found in a good state of preservation, 
as also were the ten trusses supporting the roof, which, of 
course, determined the original outline; these trusses were framed 
with a king post, and were constructed of oak-hewn timber, the 
principal rafters being in double sections, the under section of 
a natural curve; the tie-beams of the trusses were about four- 
teen inches square and formed the sleepers or girders for the 
supporl of the third floor. 

All of the roof above the cornice to the height of eight feet. 
between the trusses, had been removed; but above that height, 



156 OLD STATE EOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

forming the apex, the original boarding and jack-rafters were 
found in good condition. 

New dormer windows were placed between the trusses, the 
number, position, and proportions being ascertained from the 
several wood-cuts ; also the five chimneys on each side, which 
were found to be of modern construction, were removed. 

The tower was discovered in a neglected and very unsafe con- 
dition ; several of the bed-plates which formerly received the 
posts having been removed in the course of adapting the third 
story to business purposes, while others had been completely 
burned off; and in those alterations the only support left for 
the tower was upon the head of two plank partitions. From 
the decayed condition of the wood finish of the exterior of the 
tower it was found necessary to remove all of the sash, two 
thirds of the pilasters, pedestals, balustrades, and carved finials, 
and replace the same by new work; the copper work of the 
roof and the old vane and lightning-rod were found in a very 
passable condition. 

The work of reconstruction occupied about six months' time 
having been commenced about October 15, 1881, and completed 

in duly, 1882. 

Very respectfully submitted, 

GEORGE A. CLOUGH, 

City Architect. 



aim'hxdix G. 



The following report, on the restoration and renovation of the 
Old State House (City Document No. 100 of 1882), was submitted 
to the Common Council, June 1 J, l.s,S2 : — 



APPENDIX G. [;57 

"The Committee on Public Buildings was instructed by the 
City Council of 1881 to give effeel to the following order which 
was approved by the Mayor. Sept. 17, 1881 : — 

" Ordered, That the Committee on Public Buildings he directed to lease the 
Old State House for such terms, to such parties, and upon such terms as they 
may deem for the best interests of the City of Boston; and said committee 
arc hereby authorized to expend a sum not exceeding thirty-five thousand 
dollars in repairs on building; said sum to be charged to the appropriation 
therefor." 

•• I rider these instructions the committee of 1881 appointed 
Messrs. Whitmore, Woolley, O'Brien, and Morrison, in 1881, as 
a sub-committee; and in 1882, Messrs. Woolley, Hart (Frosl in 
his place from February 24th), Morrison (Whitmore in his place 
from March 29th), and Eddy, in the same capacity. 

•• Your committee begs leave to report in part, at this time, that 
the work has been substantially finished, and to submit a detailed 
account of its expenditures. The estimate of $35,000 was as 
accurate a calculation as could lie made in advance ; and though, 
as will be shown, much more has been done than was anticipated. 
the work will be finished so that the building can be delivered to 
its occupants within the amount named. 

•■ It was found that tiic work involved not only the removal of 
the partitions on each floor, but an elaborate reconstruction of the 

lower ll ' and basement, to lit them for such tenants as the city 

would desire to have in such a building. It was found neces- 
sary to heat the building by steam, in order to do away with the 
chimneys which had been put on during the present century. It 
was, of course, in the view which the committee took, necessary 
to take oil' the modem French roof and to restore the old, pitch 
roof ; to take out the e-lass front on the west end. and the flighl of 
stairs on flic east end, and to replace them with substantial brick 



L58 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

walls and proper doors and windows. The plans of the old build- 
ing and the indications in the wood-work pointed to a circular 
stairwav between the fust and second floors. In utilizing the 
basement for business purposes, it was accessary to extend this 
stairway through that story also. The repairs to the tower were 
costly, but indispensable. The second story, containing the 
Memorial Halls, has cost considerable money, but there every 
part of the finish had to be constructed afresh. 

•• Your committee annex hereto the report of the City Architect. 
showing, first, the total cost of each kind of work ; secondly the 
cost of each part of the building. It seems that of the $35,000 
the amount of $11,300 was expended for the antiquarian part, or 
the Memorial Halls; the remainder has been economically ex- 
pended iu arranging the building for business purposes, under the 
instructions to preserve and restore the original exterior. 

" In conclusion, your committee has to report that the work has 
revealed the fact that extensive repairs, perhaps costing $25,000, 
would have been needed within a very few years, as the walls 
were crumbling, the timbers of the roof and tower badly decayed, 
ami even for renting purposes the building could not be compared 
with the modern offices iu the vicinity. It had been hoped that 
the appropriation would allow the committee to fit up the attic, 
and to provide chandeliers, etc., for the halls. But as the work 
can be finished to this point within the original appropriation, and 
as these finishing touches can be left to our successors, it is only 
necessary to mention the facts. 

•• Your committee would especially call attention to the zeal and 
success with which the City Architect has conducted the work. 
The detail- of the reconstruction of the old work have given him 
much extra labor, but it is believed that everything which has 
been done has the best architectural authority for it. A full 
explanation of the changes is reserved for another opportunity. 






APPENDIX G. J."")!) 

The various mechanics have heartily cooperated, and the result 
will, it is hoped, prove thai the appropriation has heen properly 
expended. 

•• V,)>u- committee anticipate thai it can deliver up the building 
to the City Government early in July, and, unless otherwise in- 
structed, it is their intention to invite the City Council to attend 
at a formal celebration of the event. 

Respectfully submitted, 

WILLIAM WOOLLEY, 
CHARLES H. HERSEY, 
WILLIAM FROST, 
P. JAMES MAG-UIRE, 
JOHN P. HILTON, 
OTIS EDDY, 
JOSEPH P. CONNELL, 
WILLIAM H. WHITMORE, 

Committee on Public Buildings." 



Accepted, and ordered to be printed. 

W. P. GREGG, 

( 'lerk. 



Office of City Architect, 
City Hall, June 27, 1882. 
William Woolley, Esq., Chairman Committee in charge of 
renovating the Old State House: — 

Dear Sir, — In compliance with the requesl of your committee, 
I herewith present a statemenl of the total cosl of reconstructing 
and refitting the ancienl structure, showing first the cost of each 
kind of work, together with the name of the mechanic that did it ; 
se. •oiidly. the separate cosl of restoring each pari of the building : — 



Kin 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 



Carpenters. 



Holbrook & Harlow 
Sidnev Peterson 



James Fagan 
C. W. Baxter 



John D. Driscoll 
Walbure & Sherry 



Masons. 



Painters. 



$9,413 69 
7,451 31 



$5,301 07 

365 25 



.,920 70 
265 60 



$16,865 00 



Roofing and Gutters. 



T. F. Harrigan 



Superintendent and Watchman. 
F. A. Hatch and M. Farnham 

Steam-heating and Ventilation. 
[ngalls c^ Kendricken . ... 

Ikon and Marble Work. 
L. M. Ham and Bowker, Torrey, & Co. . 



R. Et. Clark 



Brintnall & Tombs 



Granite-Wok k. 



Plumbing. 



Plastering. 



J. II. Davis . 

1 1 mount carried forward. 



5,666 92 



2,186 30 

1,128 13 

1,380 04 

1,648 66 

1,061 74 

1,099 32 

988 58 

923 19 
12,947 88 



APPENDIX G. 1(51 

Amount brought forward, $32 947 88 

( Varying. 
W. H. Rumney . ... 850 00 

Gas-fitting. 
( Iharles Pierce . . . 235 29 

Fuel, advertising, rat-catching, and other miscella- 
neous items, amount . . 825 83 



834,859 00 



Separate Cost of Restoring Each Part. 

Reconstruction of roof . . . $4 331 44 

Alteration, Washington-street end . I 658 39 

Alteration, State-street end . . 3 195 00 

Construction of sub-cellar . . 1470 00 

Fitting up of U.U. offices . 1,877 85 

Fitting up antiquarian rooms . 8 864 34 

Circular staircase, hall and stairs . $2,460 10 

Staircase basement stairs . 1,400 00 



3,860 40 
Fitting up offices, 1st floor, State-street end . 1,649 19 

"■ basement :;j,|s 43 

The items of superintendence, watching, advertising, 
fuel, and work upon the walls of outside, have not 
been included iii the above amounts, in all amount- 
ing to • . . 4,803 96 



$34,859 00 
Vci \ respectfully submitted, 

GEORGE A. CLOUGH, 

( 'itxi ArchiU 



1(52 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 



APPENDIX H. 



EXTRACTS FROM THE " LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF 
ME, ROBERT KEAYNE, ALL OF IT WRITTEN WITH MY 
OWNE HANDS & BEGAN BY ME MO: 6: 1: 1653, COMON.VX 
CALLED AUGUST." 

I Robert Keayne, Cittizen and M'ehant Taylor of London by freedome, 
and by the good Providence of Cod now dwelling at Boston in New England 
in Amireca being at this time through the great goodnes of my God, both in 
health of body, & of able and sufficient memory, yet considering that all 
flesh is as grasse, that must wither and will returne to the dust, and that my 
life may be taken away in a moment, therefore that I may be in the better 
readinesse (and freed from the distracting cares of the disposing of my out- 
ward estate, w ch comonly followesthe deferring of it, while the time of sick- 
les or day of Death, when the minde should be taken up with more serious 
and waighty consideracons) I doe therefore now in my health make ordaine 
& declare this to be my Last Will and Testament and to stand and to be as ef- 
fectuall as if I had made it in my sicknes, or in the day or houre of my 
death, which is in manner and forme following 



This being p r missed in respect of my soule & my faith in Jesus Christ, I 
doe next eomitt my body to the earth (& to comely & decent burriall) there 
to rest till my loveing Savio r l>y r his Almighty power shall raise it up againe, 
at which time I confidently beleive it shalbe reunited to my owne soule, and 
there shall receive according to the works that I have done in this life accord- 
ing as they have beene good or evill in the sight of God, or according to that 
faith and confidence that I have in the free grace and merits of the Lord 
Jesus Christ. As for my Buriall I shall not desire any great outward solem- 
nitie to be used further [ISO.] then that which shalbe decent & civill as be- 
comes Christians knowing that extraordinary solemnities can nothing add to 
the peace or benefit of the deceased, yet haveing beene trayned up in Millitary 
Discipline from my young 1 ' yeares, & haveing endeavoured to promote it 
the best I could since God hath brought me into this country & seeing he 
bath beene pleased to use me as a poore instrument to lay \"' foundation of 
that Noble Society of the Artillery Company in this place, that hath SO farr 
prospered by the blessing of God as to helpe many with good experience in 
the use of their e Armes & more exact knowledge in the Millitary Art & 
hath beene a nursery to raise up many able and well experienced souldiers 
thai hath done since good service for their country, therefore to declare my 

affections tO thai exercise & the society of souldiers, 1 shall desire to be 
buryed as a souldier in a Millitary way, if the time vv place of my death and 
other occasions may suite thereunto which I leave to the discretion of my 
executors and friends 

As for the goods of this life which the Lord of his aboundant mercy, his 
rich & undeserved favo r hath bestowed & reserved to me the greatesl of sin- 
ners and the unworthyest of all his servants I dispose of in manner following 



These thirds for my wife being p r messed & my ffunnerall charges & debts 
being provided for as I have before mentioned The resl of my whole estate 



appendix n. k;;{ 



both personnall & reall with my lands housing iv all other things belonging 
to my estate I devide into two parts, the one pari whereof I give and be- 
queath unto my welbeloved & only son Benjamin Keayne, the other part of 
my estate, I meane the just or due value of it I reserve as my owne right to 

dispose Of as I please which is as herein shall after he expressed. 

********** 
******** * * 

1 haveing long thought & considered of the want of some necessary things 

of publike concernment which may not b< ly comodious but very 

profitable & useful! for the Townc of Boston, as a Market place & < lundit, the 
one a good helpe in danger of fyre, the want, of which wee have found by sad 
& costly experience riot onlj 111 eiher parts of the towne where possibly they 
have better supply for water hut, in the heart, of the towne aboul the market 
place, the other useful! for the country people that come with theire pro- 
visions tor the supply of the tow tie, that they may have a, place to sitt dry in 
ami warme both in cold raine & durty weather & may have a place to leave 
theire corne or any other things sate that they cannot sell, till they come 
againe, which would be both an incouragement to the country to come in & 
u meanes to increase trading in the ( 1 U^.] Towne also, to have some 
convenient roome or too for the Courts to meete in both in Winter i<:, Sinner 
& so tor the Townes men & Comissio™ of the Towne, also in the same 
building or the like there may he a convenient roome for a Library &a 
gallery or some other handsome roome for the Elders to meete in & conferr 
together when they have occasion to come to the towne for any such ende, as 
I perceive they have many. Then in the same building there may he also a 
roome for an Armory to keepe the Amies of the Artillery Company & for the 
Souldiers to meete in when they have occasion, Now if it should not he 
thought convenient by the Elders & Deacons or guids of the towne that all 
these conveniencyes should he under one roofe or in one place of the towne 
or that there he some places already built that may conveniently lie used or 
fitted up witli smale cost for some of these purposes, as in the Meeting House 
for a. (.ram-re or Armory & other places in ii for the Magistrates & Comis 
to meete in as they doe sometimes, it is true in the sumer they may, in the 
Winter they cannot for want of chimneyes & fyres, but it would he necessary 
\ more convenient (Ami the Towne hath heene often speaking about it, to 
have such a building for such uses though yet it hath not beene accomplished) 
if there were a place fitted on purpose ,\ set apart for suce publike uses, and if 
advice weretaken with some skilfull & ingenious workmen & some others that 
have good heads in contriving of buildings such as Mr. Broughton, .Mr. 
Clarke, the Chirirgion \r. there might such a model be drawne up that one 
fabricke or building may [126.] be easily contrived that would conveniently 
accomodate all these uses, without extraordinary cost and yet may he so done 
as would he a great ornament to the towne as well as useful! & profitable 
otherwayes hut if the cheife of the towne should he of anoth r lninde, then I 
should propose this, that, the cundit & Marketl House lie sett in the market place 
somewhere betweene M r Cogins house & mine or any where in that great 
streete betweene M r . Parkers House .v M . Brentons or rather M r . Webb's if it 
should he judged there to he more convenient, these two may handsomelx be 
contrived in one building in W ch possibly may he some other convenient 
roomes fitt for some of the uses before mentioned besides & for those which 
that place cannot supply, as tor a Library v\ for a Gallere or Long Roome 
for the Devines & Schollers to meete iV conferr togeather upon any occasion 
it may he contrived to he sett all along mi the foreside of the Meeting house 
joyning to it on the one side and the other side to he supported with pillars so 
the roomes about may he for Court meetings at the one side & the Elders at 
the others the open roome betweene the pillars may serve for Merchants. 
\I of Ship) is and strangers as well as the towne (being either paled or borded 
on tie to meete in at all times to conferr about there busim 

ons I conceive would he very advantagius to the towne <$ may he so 



K;j old state house re-dedication 

contrived& sett forth y 1 will be no disgrace or incumbrance to the meeting house 
but a great ornament to it. but if it should be thought not convenient to hare it in 
the front of the Meeting [127.] House, it may accomplish the same ends, if 
placed on that side of the Meeting House from Seargeant "Williams shop to 
Deacon Trusdalls house, or if a building placed in one of these two places 
may accomplish all the ends before menconed save only the Cunditt then a 
large Cundit may be sett up alone, about the place where the Pillary stands 
& the other about the meeting house as before w ch I leave to the best con- 
trivement of the towne & the Elders & Deacons w ch building or buildings if 
the towne shall thinke meete to goe about it & improve them for the severall 
uses before mentioned, only the Granere may lie in any other place of the 
towne as shalbe thought convenient, I stand not upon that though my owne 
judgement leads me to thinke that some places or place about the Comon 
Market or near to it wilbe most suitable for many reasons. I say towards the 
building of these convenient places. 

Item I give and bequeath three hundreth pounds in good merchantable 
pay the one third part thereof when the frame is brought to the place & 
raysed or some part of it before when the frame is in some forwardness if 
neede be, the seconde part when the chimneyes are built, the house covered 
and closed in round and all the fioore's layd, and the last third part when it 
is quite finished, provided that it be gone about and finished within two or 
three yeares at the most after my decease, and if any of these either a Cundet 
or Markett House should be sett up before my death, by the towne or any- 
other in the place or places above mentioned, then my gift shall remaine 
good either for some addition to the same worke or for the accomplishing of 
those other workes by me mentioned that are not done by others, with a, re- 
bating proportionable to what [128.] is or shalbe before done by the towne 
or any other Pson, Now that these things may not lie only for a show or a. 
name & when finished prove as shaddowes & stand as emptie roomes without 
substance that they may be improved for the uses that I ayme at & intend 
though my estate is not such as whereby I am able to doe what I desire & 
would be willing to doe if had it, for such publike benetitt. yet for examples 
sake & encouragement of others (especially of our owne towne w cl > will 
have the benetitt of it) & such in the towne that have publike spirits & some 
comfortable estate- to helpe on such workes I shalbe willing to east m my 
mite & bring my lime & hare possibly God may stirr up the hearts of others 
to bring in their Badger skines & silke & others more costly things that the 
worke may goe on iS prosper in so smale a beginning 

Therefore to the Granere I give and bequeath < >ne hundred pounds to be 
payd in Come and that to be improved for a publike stocke to such uses & 
ends as I shall hereafter mention 

Ne\t the Library & Gallere for Devines & Schollers to meete in being 
finished 

I give and bequeath to the beginning of that Library my 3 great writing 
bookes w ch are intended as an Exposition or Interpretation of the whole 
Bible, a- also a I th great writing booke in which is an exposition on the 
Prophecy of Daniel of the Revelations & the Prophecy of Hosea not long since 
began, all which Bookes are written with my owne hand so fan- as they be 
writt X could desier that some able scholler or two that is active and dilli- 
& addicted to reading and writing were ordered to carry on the same 
worke by degrees as they have leasure and opportnnitie & in the same 
methode and way as I have begun (if a better be not advised to) at least if 
[120.] it shalbe esteemed for the profitt of it to young students (though 
not so to more able and learned Devines in these knowing times I worth the 
labo' as I have & doe finde il to my selfe worth all the paines & labour I 
have botowed upon them, so that if I had I00 lb layd me downe for them, to 
deprive nie of them, till my sight or life should be taken from me I should 
not part from them 



APPENDIX II. l'|."j 



And because I perceive thai the Elders of the neigbo r ing townes have ap- 
pointed certaine times in y° yeare as chiefly in Sumer time once a moncth to 
meete together to confirr about ordering tilings in the Churches according to 
God & to debate aboul doubts or difficult questions that may arise, in matters of 
religion and such like and that they have noe place to meete in, but at one of 
our Elders houses nor nothing to refresh themselves with but of them v, 
prove too great a burthen to our Elders (the meetings being so often and con- 
tinueing constant ) to beare of theire owne charge besides other burthens & in- 
conveniences they may undergoe Therefore the roome before mentioned be- 
ing fitted y 1 they may meete when they please thereat 1 doe will and bequeath 
tower pounds a yeare to be payd out of some of my shops in Boston by 
quarterly payments w ch may be ordered and disposed as the Eld rs shall direct 
or advise to provide some refreshing tor them when they meete or now and 
then dmn' s as farr as it will goe & as themselves shalbe pleased to husband 
it, not that 1 would put upon my Executor the care of such provisions or of 
buying or dressing the meate, hut that he should appointe w ch shop should pay 
them so much & then they may appointe a, steward of theire owne to receive 
the pay every quarter & then they to direct how it shalbe layd out or dis- 
posed of for that ende to there owne content, only I would p'misse this if 
there meeting be only in the Sumer & not in the Winter as I conceive then my 
will is that they should receive this tower [1»}1.] pounds every Sumer. by 
forty shillings a quarter as that which wilbe most convenient for there meet- 
ing, and this gift of fower pounds p anno 1 give for the space of 'fen yeares 
from the time of my death, if thai meeting continue mi long in that towne, 
hoping that before then some other may be moved to step in & to add so much 
more to it as may serve to provide a. moderate dinner for every time of there 
meeting so that noe part of the charge of it may lye upon themselves and 
when the in yeares is ended I doubt not if my son be then liveing here ( & my 
buildings continue as now, that he would continue this gift of myne longer if 
that meeting continue longer & proves by experience to be much for the good 
and advantage of religion & the churches as is intended & not to the hurt & 
pjudice of the same 

And if a convenient fayre roome in one of the buildings before mentioned 
be sequestered & seta part for an Amory & the meeting of the Artillery if 
there it be thought convenient or if some other plai e be provided for that use 
more convenient, with the Officers of that Companys advice, I am not strict 
for the very place so they have content in it. though yet I til ; ike tin." very 
hart & securest part of the towne (& noe out or by place) is the most titt for 
a Magazene for Armes because of the danger of surprizing of them, the place 
that they now use wilbe titt. to scow er & tend tin' Armes in & the other to lay 
them ii]i & keepe them in. which wilbe a comely sight for straingers to see >\ 
a great ornament to the roome Ov also to tie towne where j 1 li\ | the soul- 
diers may arme themselves every time they goe to exercise, such a place lie 
ing provided I give X bequeath five pounds for the incouragem' of that Com- 
pany to be layd out in Pikes & Bandal rs for the use of such souldiers of that 
Company that live in other townes, so farr as it cannot he convenient for them 
to bring there armes w th them, or if 'he Officers of that Company doe know 
any other thinge that the ( lompany wants thai wilbe more usefull tor the gen- 
nerall good of the Company then what 1 have mentioned that will continue 
& not In- spent or consumed in the use. then I am willing that the whole 
or any pari of this legacy may be so disposed of takein i Ivice and 

consenl of tny Executor in the same. 



Now concerning the original! legacy of Three hundred pounds that I have 
given to the Town.- of Boston for the raysing of a Cundit in the Market 
placed for a building to fitl for such uses as I have before mentioned, if anj 
shall alleadge that three hundred pounds is not sufficient to accomplish il I 
answ r . 1. That it may be some of these may be gone about \ finished bj 



Hid OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 



y° Towne before God may call me out of this world as y e Cundet or mket 
house &c. & then there wilbe the lesse to doc and I know that the Towne 
hath agitated it & seriously intended to have gone about to doe them all 
except only y e library, as such things that are needful! & will turne to the 
publike advantage of the Towne. _'>. I say that I conceive it' it be well 
managed & ordered it may doe it all or very neare it. I suppose one of the 
two last houses that I built hath roome enough in it to accomplish all the 
ends before mentioned excepting the Cundit, if it had beene first contrived 
& thought on for such an ende, vet that hath not cost me Ion 11 ', not by so 
much as I suppose [140.] will neare build a new Condit, but Thirdly if -it 
should fall short I doe expeel & suppose that the Towne wilbe willing to add 
to it & make up tin- rest either by enlarging of the Convenieneyes or beauti- 
fying the structure for the better ornament of the towne & possibly some 
else may thinke of some other thing wanting, that may be as usefull to the 
genn r all good of the towne as most of these to lie added to it, w ch I have not 
thought upon, besides if I were about to build a thinge that 1 conceive would 
be very usefull ix- advantagious to me but am not comfortably able to beare 
the charge of it, if any freind out of love to me would lend me .Win 11 ', some 
considerable time gratise it would be a great incouragement to me to goe on 
with the worke. but if he should offer to give me freely 300 lb . towards it I 
should think my selfe bound to be very thankefull to him and to be willing 
to make up what is wanting rather than 1 would loose so free a kindnes by 
my neglecting of the worke. 

lint possibly some wilbe ready to apprehend that I may doe this only for 
my owne endes & benefitt w cl1 may make them the more backward to have it 
goe on especially with any of there owne Cost, for some such spiritts there 
be that had rather deny themselves a benefitt then that another should enjoye 
a greater benefitt by it, as some have said that 1 have beene very forward to 
have a Cundit in y* place because I have so many houses & buildings there 
about & so a Market House [141.] wilbe more the beneficiall to bring trade- 
to my shops. I answ r putt ease that this were in all things true, it is not sine- 
full nor unlawful] in Christian prudence to pvide meanes for the p r venting 
of danger or procureing of tiny lawfull good, 1 doubt not but they would doe 
the like if it were their owne case. But - lllv what advantage will this be 
to me when I am dead and gone, if others should not receive more benefitt 
then I by it I need not trouble my selfe with what may fall out in after times, 
in these respects for I shall feele no want, nor suffer any damage by such 
losses & a 100 things would come into consideration as needful! to p'vent 
or provide for as these, if men goeing out of the world should trouble them- 
selves with the care of such changes and things that may happen when they 
are dead :!' l! > If my housen only were there & no other shops but myne, 
there might be more ground for such an apprehension, but it is the heart of 
the towne and many fay re buildings & shops there be round about, the 
Market is there seated allready, the Markel house is more for the conveniehcy 
of Strang- & there accomodation in winter and sinner in wet & dry there for 
the inhabitants of the towne ,.v in that respect it is a worke of charitie and 
mercy and though some pticular psons that trade may have more benefitt 
by it then some other psdns that dwell further off, yet the advantage & 
profitt of it will redound to the whole towne in geun'all and for my owne 
pticular I haveing given overtrade [142.] long agoe) the nearenes of the 
market is more chargeable Than beneficiall to me, if I looked not at a 
genn r all & publike good, more then my private & for the Cunditt 1 confesse 
it is v« •!•> necessary & usefull in many respects, especially in danger of fyre 
& well it were if there were more of them in the towne then there is, but 
thai it wilbe more beneficiall to me or that I shall ha\ e more neede of it then 
others who can tell, who knowes y' my house alone shalbe sett on f\ re. God 
may p r serve myne though divers others may be consumed, as it fell OUl lately 
by sad experience, had there beene a Condit in the Market place before, then 
would ir not have beene looked at & found to be a publike good, might not 



APPENDIX II. ](>, 



some of the houses beene saved that were consumed more worth then the 
charge of setting up three or fower such Conditts, nay if the fyre had gone 
on in its rage as it was most like (had nol God in unexpected m 
p r vented it) & ceased upon others houses as it threatened to doe. the whole 
towne would have had cause to thinke & to have bewailed the want of it) 
that such a Conditt was a publique good & the want of it a publique evill 
though some pticular psons might have had the benefite of it at that time 
more than others, and at some other times others might have had more neede 
,', more benefitl by it than they hut if my houses & shopes stoode alone or 
if I onlv should need & not others, if it were for my owne private X not for 
the publique good of others, 1 would build a Condit & a. Market house too it 
there were neede [143.] at my own charge without calling in the helpe of 
others & 1 thinke if my owne heart deceive me not, my ayme in all these 
things proposed is for the genn r all good oJ the towne & that if 1 had noe 
house thereabouts hut had lived in some other pari of the towne, I should he 
as forward to promote these workes as I have beene formerly or am at this 
p'sent. so I should desire all my loveing brethren >.<; neighbo ra of the towne 
to inter])' 1 >i. accept of what 1 tender to them, as a. fruite of my true endeavo' 
& desire of the townes -nod & not at any private advantage of me or myne & 
as one y* have beene willing & desireous to helpe them forward in my life- 
time rather than death. And for that legacy of one hundred pound before 
mentioned for y e Grannere to begin a stocke for a publique magzine of 
Come for the towne or cheifely the poorer sort in it, now what private ends 
or advantage can any one apprehend I can have in that when 1 am dead & so 
for the library & armory & Plattforme & Butt for the incou r agem t of the 
Artillery Company & or free schoole or what I had .set apart form'ly for the 
trayning up of the Indians Children in learning & some English scholl" to 
learne the Indian Tongue, now if these cannot but he interpted for a pub- 
lique and genn r all good to tin 1 towne why should any conceive otherwise of 
the other, for the Conditt there is none in the markett place & if such a 
worke he needfull in any p*. of the towne, it is ."> times more needfull there 
[144:.] & so fur the market house except there were more publique markets 
set tip in some othere p te . of the towne >.<; though God hath beene pleased in 
some measure to carry me on witli a publique spirit to seeke the good of the 
towne according to that abillity which God hath beene pleased to afford unto 
me though I am not able to doe according to the largenes of my desire hope- 
ing that God will raise up some others after me, of abler estates & opener 
hearts >.<: hands to add larger additions to these weake beginnings or to begin 
some others that may he more usefull than these. 



And for the Three hundred pounds which I have given to the Towne of 
Boston to build a Condit. a Market house & Towne house with a Librarj 
Grannere v^- Armore, as I have before mentioned if the towne of Boston 
shall slight or undervalue this gift or my good will to them therein & shall 
refuse or neglect to noe about i<; finish these sev'all buildings in manner X 
time before mentioned rather than they wilbe troubled with it, or add any- 
thing oftheire owne fur the finisheing of it. then my will is that this gift of 
300 '• given to Boston for the uses oi those buildings before mentioned shall 
utterly cease and become voyd in respect of Boston & those giftes that I have 
given with relation to those buildings as my Bookes to the Library & c . or any 
others of them that I have [ 1,">J5. 1 not before provided for <S ordered shalbe 
& remane to the sole use of the Collidge at Cambridge in the same manner 
that I have ordered the former I20 lb . in Come for the poore in Boston, in 
the Deacons or Towne shall refuse or neglect to give security for the 
principal! StOCke as before i> mentioned. 

My true meaning herein is this that if the Towne of Boston shall setl 
upon one or two of these workes & neglect or refuse to carry ontheresl or some 
of the other that 1 have mentioned happely being done by the Towne before 



L68 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 



I dye) as if they should build only the Condit & Market house & not a Townes 
house or Library & Gallere or a Grannere & Armore & not a Condit or 
Market house & c . then my will is that my executo 1 shall give only such a 
proportion of this Three hundredth pounds as that worke or building shall 
come too, w ch they set upon only in relation to this gift of myne, compared 
with the value of the other buildings that I have likewise mentioned but they 
have left undone & that what upon that account shalbe reserved of the 300 lb . 
shalbe for the use of the Collidge of Cambridge, as I have given the whole 
:;nu 1! '. in case they refuse or neglect to finish all those buildings or any of 
them within two or three yeares after my death as before I have ordered. 
********** 
********** 

And concerning my bookes that 1 have given to begin the Library with all 
in Boston, my will is that my brother Willson & M r Norton Eld rs at Boston 
or the teaching Eld rs that shall at the time of my death (after my wife and 
son Benjamine have made choyce of some bookes for theire owne use as I 
have before expressed I may he requested to take paines to view over the rest 
of my bookes & such as they shall judge fitt for that use to take a pticul r note 
or inventory of them & so to take them into there owne keeping or to leave 
them with my executo 1 if they will, till "the time mentioned in this will be ac- 
complished, that if the towne of Boston should not within three yeares after 
my death build a handsome roome for a Library & anoth 1 for the Eld™ & 
Scholl rs to walke & meete in, as before I have expressed, that then they may 
[157.] be delivered to the President or some of the Overseers of Herbert 
Collidge in Cambridge to he placed as my gift or addition to that Library that 

is already begun there. 

********** 

********** 
Therefore I doe here againe declare all that which is contained before in nine 
sheetes of paper writt with my owne hand in all the sides thereof & more par- 
ticularly expressed in the 36 page y r of with all thai i> added to it in this -page 
.",7 to be 'my last Will & Testament & my son Major Benjamine Keayne to 
be sole executor thereof & my loveing freinds mentioned in the lower elide 
Of page 36 to be the overseers of it. 

In Wittnes whereof as there so here againe 1 have putt to my hand & seale 
in the p r sence of these whose names ,^- handes are hereunder written this 
December 28, 1653 

Robert Keayne ^v a seale 

John Willson Edw Ting 

Rl< hard Parker Hon 1 ' Una, 

Edw Ffletcher 

[274.] Att a County Court held at Boston 2d of May 1656 
M r John Wilson Sen. M r . Richard Parker&M r . Edward Tyng deposed before 
the Court that Cap' Robert Keayne at y e times mentoned in the thirty sixt 
page & thirty seA enth pag. did call them in and declared these nine sheets of 
paper <§ one page to be his fist will & testament & sawe him signe and seale 
the same & y l they know of no other will w ch was approved of by y Court as 
attests 

Edw lrd R vws< in Recorder 

[In Margin, page 273. I 

At a County Court Eor Suffolke heldat Boston 

I'll 111 Janur .V 1683 

The Executo" within nominated of the last will of ('apt' 1 Robert Keyne 
sometime of Boston ilrrr 1 hereto annexed being both dead! Power of 
Adm''"" of y" estate of s (1 Cap' 1 ' Keyne is granted unto M 1 Nicholas Paige and 
Anna, his wife Grand daught' of s 1 ' Robert Keyne to pursue the performance 
of his will in what remains to be done therein, they to give Bond of one 
thousand pounds to execute the same, their own bond being accepted by y 
Court is accordingly taken 

Attest Is' A.DDINGTON Cl rc 



APPENDIX I. 1()9 



APPENDIX 1. 



THE FIRE IN 1747. 

[On pp. 57-58 we have given two contemporaneous accounts of 
the destruction of the House, by fire, in 1747. The following 
description is worthy of preservation as containing some additional 
particulars.] 

From the Boston Gazette, or Weekly Journal: No. 1343. 
Tuesday, December 15, 1747. 

" Last Wednesda}- Morning this Town was exceedingly sur- 
prised by a most terrible Fire which broke out at the Court 
House, whereby that spacious and beautiful Building, except the 
bare walls, ivas entirely destroyed: The Rise and Progress of 
which, according to the best Information we can get, is as fol- 
lows, viz. : The Day before being very cold, and the General 
Court sitting, there had been two fierce Fires In the Chimnies of 
the Chambers both of the Council and Representatives ; and from 
those Chimnies between them the Fire seems to have been kin- 
dled, and to have been lurking all Night in one of the Beams 
beneath them, till it first broke out in the Deal or Cedar Wainscot 
passage between the Doors of those Chambers, which were of Deal 
or Cedar Wainscot also. 

li For at Six in the Morning the Watch at the East End of the 
Town House broke up ; and between five and ten Minutes after, 
the Rays of the Fire first discover'd it in the said Passage through 
the great Window against it, by glancing into the Chambers of 
the Houses on the North side of the Town-House, where two 
or three People were awake ; and running to the Windows first 
saw it There; but it quickly broke into the Council Chamber, 
and run up the Deal Wainscot Stairs into the Loft and Lanthorn 
above, and set them all in a Blaze, before the People came either 
to manage the Engines, or save the Province Records, Books, 



170 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Papers, Plans, Pictures, or anything else in the Chambers or 
Apartments, to the inestimable Loss of the Province. 

" But thro' the Mercy of GOD the County Records under the 
Western Staircase below and Part of the Province Records under 
the Eastern Staircase below, as also Copies of the Minutes 
of Council from the Beginning to 1787, being at the Secre- 
tary's dwelling House are happily saved. 

"In the Cellars which were hired by several Persons, a great 
Quantity of Wines and other Liquors, were lost, to the amount of 
several Thousand Pounds. The Vehemence of the Flames oc- 
casional such a great Heat as to set the Roofs of some of the 
opposite Houses on Fire, notwithstanding they had been cov- 
ered with Snow, and were extinguished with much Difficulty." 



APPENDIX J. 



BILL FOR PAINTING THE STATE HOUSE, 1773. 

The following interesting document is printed from the original in the 
collection of Mellen Chamberlain, Esq., of the Boston Public Library : — 
1773. Province Massachusetts Bay to Tho 9 . Crafts, Jun. Dr. 

To painting State House, Viz. 

To paints Council Chamber Loby, &c, 402 yards @ 9 d ., 15 . . 1 . . 6 

To Ditto Representatives Ditto, 426 yards @ 9 d . , 15 . . 19 . . G 

To my self & 2 hands, 2 Days and half, taking down & ~\ 

putting up Picturs iu Council & Representatives >- I.. 17.. 6 

Chambers @ 5/, J 

To painting & Gilding Kings Arms, 

To Ditto Ditto Colonies D°, 

To Ditto Codfish, 

To Ditto & Gilding Dial, East End, 

To Ditto Bricks as p" Agreement, 

To Ditto lower floor, p r Ditto, 

To Ditto Stair Cases, 208 yards, @ 9 d ., 
May To 4 Hands, Cleaning & scraping D°. , 1 day @ 5/, 
25th To painting Belcony & Pedemint over it, 80 yards @ 1C 1 ., 

To Ditto 10 Lutherin Windows @ 8/, 

To Ditto 8 Cants, 30 yards @ 10 d ., 



10. 


. o., 


. 


4. 


. o.. 


. 


o. 


.15. 




3. 


.10. 


. 


47. 


. o.. 


. 


14. 


• 7 .. 


. 4 


7. 


.16. 


. 


1. 


. o. 


. 


3. 


. 6. 


. 8 


4. 


. 0. 


. 


1. 


. 5. 


. o 



APPENDIX K. 17] 

To Ditto 2 Carved Corner Pieces, 

To Ditto Lyon & Unicorn, 

To Ditto 3 Pediments over Doors, 30 yards @ 10 d ., 

To Ditto 54 Window frames, very Dry, @ 4/, 

To Ditto 1442 squares sash @ 12 d ., 

To Ditto 4 Ox Eye Window frames @ 1/, 

To Ditto Mondilion Cornish outside, 1G0 yards @ 10 d ., 

To Ditto Trunks, 50 Yards @ 10 d ., 

To writing Gold Letters over Doors, 

To 2 Hands half day, bringing Picturs from Gov™ & 

puns up, 
To paints 2 Doz Draws, 

To Ditto Rails down front Steps, 4 hands 2 days, 
T« cleaning Gov Burnets Picture & Gilds frame, 



60 yards painting short charg d @ 9 d ., 



1. 


. 0. 


. 


1. 


• 8. 


. 


1. 


. 5- 


. 


10. 


.16. 


. 


12. 


. 0. 


. 4 


0. 


. 4. 


. 


6. 


.13. 


. 4 


2. 


. 1. 


. 8 




12. 


. 




6. 


. 




4. 


. 


3. 


. 0. 


. 


1. 


.16. 




£171. 


. 3. 


.10 


2. . 


. 5. ■ 






£173.. 8. .10 



APPENDIX K. 



GIFTS BY THE STATE. 

By chapter 47 of the Resolves of the Legislature, approved June 
2, 1883, it was 

" Resolved, That the Governor and Council be, and they are 
hereby, authorized to transfer to the City of Boston any old fur- 
niture or other articles used in or identified with the Old State 
House." 

Acting on this authority the old table formerly in use by the 
Governor and Council was transferred to the old building. The 
following letter accompanied the gift : — 

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. 

Executive Department, 

Boston, Dec. 8, 1883. 
To the City of Boston : — At the request of the City of Boston, through its 
proper officers placed in charge of the " Old State House," and with the ad- 



172 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

vice and consent of the Council, I have sent herewith, to be preserved in that 
building, by the custodians, the table of the Executive Council before the 
Revolution, which was removed to the State House, and kept in the use of 
the Council, during the occupation of the present State House, beginning from 
the opening of the present century. After a careful examination of the rec- 
ords of the Executive Department, and the office of the Secretary of State, 
I believe there can be no doubt of the verity of the table returned herewith, 
excepting only change because of repairs. 

BENJ. F. BUTLER, 

Governor. 
[seal] Witness the Seal of the Commonwealth, 

HENRY B. PEIRCE, 

Secretary. 

There is no doubt that this table was in use in the old building, 
as the records show repeated repairs upon it, but no purchase of a 
new table, until recently, when the one in use was bought. Its 
framework is very old, though the top is more recent. The centre 
is made of black-walnut, and on that account its age was ques- 
tioned. Investigation, however, showed that the use of this wood 
for ornamental furniture dates back at least to the middle of the 
last century. 

The State officials also sent various old chairs, a portion of the 
old chandelier, a secretary, and a case for papers or books inscribed, 
"The Gift of Isaac Royal, Esq r of Charles-Town." 



APPENDIX L. 173 



APPENDIX L. 



THE COURT HOUSE, THE JAIL, AND THE CITY HALL. 

As has been stated in the preceding pages, the Courts for the 
county of Suffolk were held in the old Town House, until it was 
burnt in 1747, with occasional sessions, when necessary, in the 
First Church building or elsewhere. 

When the interior of the Town House was rebuilt after the 
fire of 1717. a room was reserved for the use of the Courts on the 
westerly end of the second Moor. It was undoubtedly the north- 
westerly corner, and there was a stairway and lobby in the 
north-easterly corner, with an entrance to the west end of the 
Representatives' Hall. 

The dimensions of this Court Room 1 cannot now be accurately 

1 The following extracts from the < 'on it Records show that the Court claimed ownership 
of tlio room after removal. 
At a Court of General lie Peace hi IS m, on Tuesday, Maj 2, 1769, it 

Was 

"Ordered, that John Ruddock, Belcher Moves and Samuel Pemberton be and they 
hereby are appointed a Committee t<> cause the Siairs in the late Court Chamber in the 
Townhouse, so called, leading up to the < lallery there, to be immediatelj taken down : i hat 
thej cause the Door leading into said < lhani . '<l and so Secur'd as thai no pi 

shall Enter said Chamber, without the leave ol this ( lourt or the Consent of the Committee : 
and said Committee are directed to Open the other Stairs leading up to the Gallery. 

"The said Committee above named declining to A.cl in the above affair, Ordered that 
Richard Dana, Joseph Williams and John Tudor, Esqr. be the Committee foi the 
Purposes." 

At a Court held at Braintree Tuesday, < >ct. 1, ITTii, " Tin I Isqi . is appointed 

to inform the General Assembly ol this State that this Court consent that the Chamber at 



174 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

fixed, except that it was over eleven feet in width, cast and west, 
and was limited, north and south, by the above-named stairway. 
Considering the large needs of the House of Representatives, it 
does not seem unreasonable to imagine that this Court Room was 
not over fifteen feet north and south, and perhaps twenty feet 
east and west. It should be remembered that we hardly know the 
purpose for which this room served. The clerk's offices were on 
the floor below, the jury-room must have been elsewhere, and for 
all important trials the Representatives' Hall itself was available. 

However, for about twenty years the Courts were established 
within the walls of the Town House. The following items from 
the Court records bear upon this period : — 

At a Court in Boston, Feb. 10, 1746-7, it was ordered that 
12.s. 9d. wt be paid unto Mr. Benjamin Russell for setting up a 
Bar in Faneuil Hall, p. order of both Judges of the Sup. Court, 
for the Tryal of persons indited for murther." 

At the same time £3. 16.. 6 was allowed to Onesiphorus Tiles ton 
for work and materials in the Clerk's Office of this Court. 

Oct. 31, 1748, £5 was paid to Richard Hubbard for tolling the 
bell, sweeping the house, &c. 

Nov. 9, 1748, £2. .3. .7 was paid to Thomas Parker for "work 
and stuff in mending the Chimney in the office at Faneuil Hall." 

March 6, 1748-9, £2..12..0 was paid to Mr. Robert Stone "in 
full of his Account for the Courts sitting at his house." 

the West end of the old Court house betaken into the Assembly Room, the State paying 
the < "unty therefor Buch a Sum as the Assembly shall think just and reasonable." 

At a Court held at Boston, Tuesday, April 15, 1777, " Ordered, that such of the Men 
of tins i <m it as are members of the Great and General Court of this state, si i all be a Com- 
mittee to Apply to said < I real and ( reneral Court for such a < Irani as they may think reason- 
able, for the Room belonging to this County in the Old Court Souse, which was taken into 
the Room used by the Eouse of Representatives for the enlargement thereof." 

Dr. Moon notwithstanding the above vote, no recompense was made to the 

Court or the County, until the final settlement in 1803, by which the town of Boston paid 
all claims. [AnU , p 






APPENDIX L. ]7,") 

May L5, 1 749, £19 was paid to William Clear, > k in full of his ac- 
count for the Courts sitting at his house in January and February 
last." Also £10 to Benj a . Bagnall, " it being in full for the several 
Courts of , I ust ice sitting in the Quakers Meeting house to this day." 

At an adjournment of a Court of Gen 11 Sessions on Friday the 
28 th of duly A.l). 1749. 

•• The Mem" of Middlecott Cooke & Ezek 1 Goldthwait the Clerks 
of this Court setting forth that when the Town house was Con- 
sumed in Dec r . 1747, they took all possible pains to preserve the 
publick Records & Files of the County then in their office, that in 
removing the same out of the Townhouse the Files of Writs Exe- 
cutions & other papers belonging to the County were most of 'em 
broke & so intermixed that there was scarce a whole file of Papers 
together for near Seventy or eighty years past, that upon the 
Mem informing this Court thereof, the were pleas' d to order the 
Mem" to Sort the Files & papers & put 'em into order which 
they have accordingly done & in doing there of have taken great 
Care & been put to a considerable Expence of time, praying this 
Court to make them such an Allowance therefor as they shall 
think reasonable was read & thereupon Ordered that Sam 1 Welles 
Sam 1 Watts Sam 1 White -Joseph Heath & Samuel Miller Esq™ be a 
Com 1 '', to take s' 1 Mem", into Consideration & report to this Court 
as soon as may be (word left out — piece torn from book) 
they shall think reasonable sho d be allowed the Memo, for said 
Service." 

At an adjournment of a Court of Gen 11 Sessions on Wednesday 
the 9 th of Aug*. A.l). 1749. 

"The Committee appointed the 28 th of July on the .Memorial of 
Messrs Middlecott Cook & Kzek : ( J-oldthwait reported that they 
were humbly of Opinion that there be allowed and paid out of the 
County Treasury Sixty live Pounds bills of the last Emission to 
the Memorialists for their Services as set forth in said Memorial 



176 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

which report was read & accepted & there upon it was Ordered 
that said Sum be paid out of the County Treasury accordingly." 

Feb. 9, 1749-50. £26. .1.. 9 was paid to William Doane, Esq., 
" it being for Curtains and Cushions in the Court Chamber." 

JuTy "29, 1751. " Ordered, that a suitable Bell be provided at 
the Charge of the County, to be placed upon the Court House for 
the use of the Courts of Justice here." 

Feb. 10, 1752. £5. .7. .2 was paid to Robert Stone "in full of 
his account for the Courts sitting at his house in January last." 

May 13, 1752. Joshua Winslow, Esq r ., was paid £23. .3. .9 
for the bell he had provided, and Middlecott Cooke was " desired 
to fix said Bell on the Roof of the Court house, in such manner as 
he shall think proper." 

Janv. 2, 1753. " Ordered, that the Sheriff of the County be 
directed to purchase a Dutch Stove and fix the same in the Court- 
house for the Comfort and Convenience of the Court in their 
Sessions in the Winter Season." 

Jany. 28, 1754. " The Committee appointed the first day of 
tli is sitting of this Court, on the Memorial of Thomas Hutchinson, 
Esq., Judge of Probate, reported that they had Viewed the Land 
in s d memo, mention'd, and were of Opinion that a Convenient 
Brick Building for the Probate Otiiee might be erected in the front 
of said Land, adjoining to the County Gaol, and thereupon It is 
Ordered that John Fayerweather, Joshua Winslow and Joseph 
Dowse, Esq rs . be and they hereby are appointed a Committee to 
Erect a Brick Building on said Land for an Office for the Judge 
of Probate for this County, and that they do it in the most con- 
venient manner and at the cheapest Kate they can." 

Dec. 3, 1754. The committee reported that they had built and 
completed said office for the Judge of Probate. The expense 
seems to have been about £250. 
May 14th. 175G. 



APPENDIX L. 177 

"The Petition of John Payne and John Cotton Registers of the 
Court of Probate, for the County of Suffolk — Setting forth That 
the Walls of the Office of said Court were so damp that your 
Petitioners apprehend they Endanger their health thereby and 
thai the papers & Records of said Office are very much exposed 
to the dust and Rot more especially since they have .Made use of 
Sea Coal firing, they further beg Leave to Represent to this Court 
that they are at Considerable expense in providing Coals which 
they humbly apprehend Ought to be a County Charge, and are 
Informed is so with Regard to the Clerks Office of the Court of 
General Sessions of the peace for the sd County. And Your 
petitioners would hope that they are equally Entituled thereto, and 
therefore prays that the Court wou'd have Consideration thereof, 
Which Pert", was Preferd to the Court in January last, at Which 
time Joshua Winslow and Joseph Dowse Esq" were appointed a 
Committee to make Enquiry into the Necessity thereof, & make 
report to the next Court, Which they have Accordingly done, in 
the Words following 

•• We the Subscribers being appointed to View the Office within 
mentioned are of Opinion that it Would be of Service to have 
Glass door- placed before the Book's and papers, also to have the 
lower part of the Wall lin'd with Boards. Also some alteration in 
the Chimney. — Which Report after being Read to the Court Was 
Accepted by them, and Joshua Winslow and Joseph Dowse Esq" 
are desired to see that the Several things Reported, be done." 



It will thus be >een that the first movement towards separating 
the Courts from the Town House was to build an office tor the 
Judge of Probate on land near the Jail, in 1 7.". 1 . 

This hind was set aside for public use at the original settlement 
Of the town, and called the Prison lot. The lot was bounded bv 



178 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

the street now Court street, with house-lots east and west of it. 
The annexed engraving shows the relative position of the lots, 
but evidently the strip from School street to Court street, covered 
by our present City Hall and Court House, has always been used 
for public purposes. 

TIIK JAIL. 

I am not aware of any description of the Jail as it stood until 
17G6. 

The following extracts from the Court Records show the pro- 
ceedings in regard to the rebuilding of the Jail : — 

Tuesday the thirtieth day of July A.D. 17G5. 

Order'd that Samuel Welles Samuel Watts Foster Hutchinson 
John Ruddock and William Story Esq r \ be and they hereby are 
appointed a Committee to Consider what is best for the Court to 
do, with respect to building a new Court house, & new Goals, & 
report their Opinion thereon as soon as may be. 



Friday the 9 th . day of August A.D. 1765. 

The Committee appointed the 30 th . of July to Consider what is 
best for the Court to do with respect to the building a new Court- 
house and new Goals, report that they Judge it absolutely neces- 
sary that a new Court house and a new Goal should be built as 
speedily as may be, and that the Lauds belonging to the County 
whereon the Goal and other Buildings stand are full sufficient & 
convenient for that purpose, — After mature Deliberation thereon, 

Order'd that a New Goal for Criminals & Debtors be built on 
the Lands belonging to the County situate in Queen Street in Bos- 
ton, and that the same New Goal be built in the Rear of said 
Land, and to extend the Wedth thereof as near to the extreme 



APPENDIX L. 179 

"bounds as conveniently may be, so as not to go on the East & 
West lines. 

Order'd that Samuel Welles, Samuel Watts, Foster Hutchinson, 
John Ruddock & John Tudor Esq™, be, and they hereby are ap- 
pointed a Committee for building said new Goal, and they are de- 
sired to Provide the Materials, Agree with the Workmen, and do 
every thing necessary for Effecting the same, as soon as may be. — 
And said Committee are hereby directed & Impowered, if they 
find it most for the benefit of the County, to hire Moneys for car- 
rying on s' 1 . Building & pay Interest for the same, & that the 
County shall be chargeable for repaying the same — The Consid- 
eration of Erecting a new Court house is referr'd over to the next 
Sessions. 

Joshua Heushaw Esq 1- . Treasurer of this County, Inform'd the 
Court, that his Acco ,s . have been laid before the General Court 
at their last Session, & Approved of, and that it is necessary 
a New Tax should be laid on the several Towns in the County 
for defreying the Charges of the ensuing year, The Court taking 
the same into Consideration, as also the extraordinary Expence 
the County will be at in Erecting & Compleating a New Goal for 
Criminals & Debtors, Order that the sum of One Thousand five 
hundred pounds lawful money be Rais'd for the purposes afore- 
said, and that the Clerks of this Court Issue Warrants to the 
several Towns in the County, for each Towns Proportion thereof 
according to the last Tax Act, the same to he paid in to the 
County Treasury, on or before the last day of May next. 

The Several Towns Proportion is as follows Viz*. 

Boston £818.. 15. .10 Wrentham £:.!.. IN. .4 

iloxbury 88. .18..!) Brooklim 24.. 10.. 10 

Dorchester 5~>.. Needham 22.. 10.. 

Milton 36.. 11. .8 Stoughton 48. .18. .4 



180 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Braintree 70. .16. .8 Medway 20. .2. .1 

Weymouth 35.. 13. .4 Bellingham 12. .3. .4 

Hingham 72.. 7.. 6 Hull 7.. 

Dedham 62. .7. .6 Walpole --:---- 21. .7.. 6 

Medfield 28. .9. .7 Chelsea 19.. 8.. 9 

Fifteen Hundred Pounds in the whole. — 
Warrants issued August 15 th : 1765. 



Tuesday the sixteenth day of April A.D. 1766 

Stephen Greenleafe Esq r . Sheriff of this County mov'd that a 
Committee may be appointed to Inspect the County Goals as the 
same were much out of repair, Order'd that the Committee ap- 
pointed to Erect a new Goal, be desir'd to Examine s d . Goals, & 
do what they shall Judge necessary for the present in repairing 
the same. 



Tuesday the eighth day of July A.D. 1766. 

Order'd that Stephen Greenleafe Esq r . Sheriff of this County 
forthwith remove all such persons as are now confin'd in the 
Stone Goal in this County into the wooden Goal. & there secure 
'em in the best manner he can. & there keep 'em until they are 
set at liberty by this Court, or otherwise by Order of Law, & for 
which this Order shall Justify the Sheriff, — it being found abso- 
lutely necessary to take down said Stone Goal. 



Tuesday the twenty Seventh day of January A.D. 1767. 

Order'd that the sum of Five Hundred Pounds be paid out of 
the County Treasury unto Samuel Welles Samuel Watts Foster 






APPENDIX j,. ]S] 

Hutchinson John Ruddock & John Ruddock & John Tudor Esq™. 
the Committee appointed by this Court to build the new Goal, to 
Enable them to carry on the same the said Committee to be ac- 
countable to this Court for that sum. 



January 27, 1767 

Ordered that the sum of twenty four pounds seventeen shillings 
& seven pence, lawful money, be allowed and paid out of the 
County Treasury unto Isaac Braddish, under keeper of His Maj- 
esty's Goal in Cambridge in the County of Middlesex, it being for 
the Subsistence of several prisoners in said Goal, who were by 
Order sent from the Goal in this County to Cambridge Goal, dur- 
ing the time the new Goal was in building, as by said Braddish's 
account which has been Examined by the Court and is on file. 



Tuesday the fourth day of October A.D. 1768. 

Order'd that Joshua Winslow Edmund Quincy & Belcher Noyes 
Esq rs . be and they hereby are appointed a Committee to Audit the 
Accompts of Samuel Welles. Samuel Watts, Foster Hutchinson, 
John Ruddock & John Tudor Esq™, the Committee appointed by 
this Court on the ninth day of August 1765. for building a New- 
Goal, & they are desir'd to make report of their doings thereon, 
after they have compleated the same. 



Under date of May 2, 176'.). a committee was appointed to audit 
the accounl of the New Gaol in Queen street, which was " begun 
the twelfth day of August 1766 and finished the twenty day of 
March 1767." They reported the whole cost to be £3466. . 13. .9^. 

But prior to tins settlement the new Gaol had Keen greatly in- 



182 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

jured by a fire, set, as was reported, by the prisoners. The record 
is as follows : — 

" Suffolk ss. At a Court of General Sessions of peace held at 
Boston within and for the County of Suffolk, by Adjournment, on 
Tuesday the thirty first day of January AD 1769. — 
" His Majesty's Justices present — viz 1 . — 
" Whereas the Inside part of the New Goal lately built was in 
the Night following the thirtyeth current intirely Consumed by 
Fire, no part therof but the stonewalls being left, and this Court 
judging it absolutely necessary that the same should be Rebuilt as 
soon as may be, Upon Consideration thereof Order that Joshua 
Winslow Foster Hutchinson & John Tudor Esq r be and they 
hereby are appointed a Committee to Rebuild said Goal, to provide 
the Material, Employ the Workmen, and do whatever they shall think 
best for — compleating the same as soon as may be, and the said 
Committee are hereby directed and fully Impowered (if they think 
fit) to hire monies for carrying on said Goal, and pay interest for 
the same, and that the county shall be chargeable for such sums 
as they shall so borrow and the Interest thereof and the Treasurer 
of the County for the time being is hereby directed to pay all 
such monies as said Committee shall borrow, and the Interest that 
shall become due thereupon. 

" Order'd that Bridewell house in the Town of Boston be the 
common Goal of the County, until such time as the above Goal is 
rebuilt, and the above Corn' ' . are hereby directed to make such 
Repairs & Alterations as may be necessary for the safe Custody 
of all such Persons as shall be there committed. 

" Order'd that the Sheriff of this County provide Cloathing & 
such other things as may be necessary for the comfort and 
support of such poor Prisoners as were in the Goal when the same 
look (ire, some of 'em being much burnt, & that he bring in his 
acco* thereof to this Court for allowance." 



APPENDIX L. 183 

Oct. 16th, 1770, the auditing Committee on the rebuilding of the 
Gaol reported that the whole cost of the repairs, was £1043. .19. .4, 
and £30 additional was allowed to the Committee in charge of the 

work. 

Pemberton, in 1794, writes: " The new Stone .Tail is a large, 
commodious building, and stands on the ground where formerly 
was a wooden building called the Debtor's Jail, a little back from 
Court (formerly Queeu) street. The inside was set on lire by 
some prisoners confined in it, the 30th June, 1 1769. It has since 
been repaired, is three stories in height, and is divided into three 
parts with brick partitions, cased with plank and iron. The 
upper story is appropriated to debtors. The entrance to the Jail 
is by three stroug doors in front." 

Shaw, in 1*17, adds that the Jail was 90 feet long and 23 feet 
broad and was four stories high. 

This building was in use until 1822, when the Jail in Leverett 
street was finished and occupied. Snow says that k * in 1823 the 
old gaol was taken down and its materials were partly used in 
constructing the Gun House and Ward Room on Thatcher Street." 

In 1851 or 1852 this Jail was given up and the present large, 
stone building was erected on Charles street.' 



From this necessary digression we will now return to the history 
of the Court buildings. 

1 This was a clerical error for January. — W. II. VV. 

8 The following extract from Bo wen's Picture of Boston, 1829, gives a description of the 
Jail which I have not met with elsewher 

COl RT HOUSE, JAIL, AND HOUSE OF CORRECTION. 

" The County Jail in Leveret! street and the House of Correction connected with it, and 
the Municipal Court House, are three separate edifices, all of which are handsome stone 
buildings. Perhaps there is not a building in the world made more secure. The walls and 



18tt OLD STATE HOUSE KE-DEDICATION. 



THi: COUNTY COURT HOUSE. 

Soon after the completion of the Jail, in 1767, it was decided 
to erect a Court House in the same neighborhood. 

For this purpose the Probate building was demolished in 1768. 

floors are composed of large blocks of hewn stone, which are firmly bound together with iron ; 
and between the courses loose cannon balls are placed in cavities made half in the upper 
and half in the lower blocks, as a further security. Several years elapsed after these were 
commenced, before they were finished and occupied, which was in 1822. 

" Before leaving this subject it may be proper to say something that will convey an idea 
of the internal economy and regulations of these abodes of wretchedness. The inmates of 
the House of Correction are generally sent there by the Police Court, though many are 
ordered there by the Municipal Court. A great proportion of this class of prisoners are 
confirmed drunkards, — or notorious for their disorderly and immoral lives. The women, 
from very young girls to those of an advanced age, who are sometimes collected there, are 
mostly employed in making men's clothing, excepting one day in the week, which is set apart 
for washing. They are kept orderly, under the care of experienced managers of such people, 
and their work is laid out and superintended by females of good character. The men, con- 
fined in the House of Correction, are ordinarily employed in breaking stone, suitable for 
repairing and Macadamizing the streets. They work with a ball and chain, generally, if 
notoriously bad, to prevent escape. In cold or rainy weather, they pick oakum in the middle 
story of the Jail. These prisoners are under the immediate charge of a careful man, whose 
humanity towards these unhappy creatures is greatly to be praised. The debtors, in close 
prison, occupy the rooms in the third story of the Jail, where they are accessible by their 
friends, at all hours of the day, by steps leading to a balustrade under the windows. 

" Prisoners who are waiting trial, as well as those who have been condemned, are princi- 
palis lodged on the lower floor of the Jail. The food of the prisoners consists, principally, 
of fresh beef, flour bread, and a kind of broth, technically called skilly, made by thickening 
the liquor in which the meat has been boiled, with Indian meal. In ease of sickness, 
however, a diet is directed by the physician, according to the wants and necessities of the 
individual. The aged and infirm, as well as those who are debilitated by intemperance or 

disease, are allowed tea, rice, broths, &C, daily, besides other comforts, which it were 

unnecessary to particularize. A physician whose salary is fixed by the Board of Accounts 
at $200 per annum, visits the prison daily, and prescribes according to his best skill and 
judgment. The apothecary room, though small, has a well-assorted case of medicines. In 
this room a diel book is regularly madeout, for the sick of the day. The directors also hold 
their meetings in the same room, on the afternoon of each Monday. Religious services 
are held in one or both prisons, every Sabbath, by pious philanthropic divines. The im- 
mediate responsibility of the whole devolves on the jailor, Mr. Badlam, whose character, 

as a discreet and humane man, and as a superintendent over this necessary, but gloomy 

: oi misery, has long been acknowledged by the community." 



APPENDIX L. ]S.) 

The following extracts from the Court Records show the prog- 
ress of the enterprise : — 

Tuesday the fifth day of May A.I). 17G7. 

The Committee appointed the 21 st . of October last, to make 
Application to the General Court relating to the building a new 
Courthouse, reported that they had Prefer' d a Memorial to the 
General Court, & Confef'd with their Committee concerning it, 
but said Court has not yet done any thing thereon. It is thereupon 
Order'd that said Committee be desir'd to make such further 
Application to said Court for bringing this Affair to some final 
determination, as they shall think necessary & Proper & Report 
thereon to this Court. 



Wednesday the 12 th . day of June A. I). 17C7. 

The Committee appointed to make further Application to the 
General Court about building a new Court house, report that since 
the hist sitting of this Court, they had Preferr'd another Memorial 
to the Court. & being largely heard — thereupon in the hon ble . 
house of Representatives, but are Informed that the house have 
done nothing thereupon. 



Tuesdav the eleventh day of August A. I). 1767. 

Order'd that the sum of Five pounds eight Shillings and eight 
pence he allowed & Paid out of the County Treasury unto 
William Baker, in full of his Acco'. for ringing the Courts Bell, 
sweeping the Court Chamber & c . for a, year past, as by his Acco'. 
which has been Exam' 1 , by a Committee & is on file. 

.Joshua Ilenshaw Esq r . Treasurer of this County Informed the 
Court that his Aero' . were hud before the General Court at their 
last Session & approv'd of; & Pray'd the Court will now determine 
upon the Sum necessary to be rais'd for defreying the Expences 



180 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

of the County, Upon Consideration hereof It is Agreed & Deter- 
mined by the Court, that it will be necessary to raise the sum of 
Fifteen hundred Pounds by a Tax on the several Towns in the 
County, for compleating the new Goal & paying the other usual 
Charges of the County, And It is hereby Order'd that the Clerks 
of this Court Issue Warrants to the Several Towns in the 
County for Each Towns proportion thereof, according to the 
last Provincial Tax Act, the same to be paid into the County 
Treasury on or before the last, day of May next. 
The Several Towns Proportion is as follows — Viz 1 . 

Boston £818 ,, 15 ,, 10. Brookline £24 ,, 10 ., 10 

Roxbury 88 ,, 18 ,, 9. Needham 22 „ 10 ,, — 

Dorchester 55 Stoughton 32 ,, 19 ,, 10 

Milton 3G ,, 11 ,, 8. Medway 20 „ 2,, 1 

Braintree 70 ,, 1G ,, 8. Bellingham 12 ,, 3 ,, 4 

Weymouth 35 ,, 13 ,, 4. Hull 7 

Hiugham - 72 ,, 7 ,, 6. Walpole 21 ,, 7 ,, 6 

Dedham 62 ,, 7 ,, 6. Chelsea 19 ,, 8 ,, 9 

Medfield 28 ,, 9 ,, 7. Stoughtonham 

Wrentham 54 ,, 18 ,, 4. District 

Fifteen Hundred Pounds, in the whole. 

Warrants issued August 14 : 1767. 



15 „ 8 „ 6 



Tuesday the 26 th . day of January, A.D. 17G8. 

The Petition of Sundry Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, 
praying that the wooden Shop adjoyning to the Probate Office 
in Queen Street may be removed, they apprehending said Office 
to be much endangcr'd by Fire, in case said Shop is suffer'd 
to remain there any longer, It is thereupon Order'd that the 



APPENDIX L. 1^7 

Sheriff of this County take care that said Shop be immediately 

taken down or removed to some other place distant from said 
office. 



Wednesday the fourth day of May A.D. 1768. 

Order'd that the Brick Building Erected a few years since 
on the Land belonging to the County near the Goal in Boston, 
for an Office for the Court of Probate, be taken down, for the 
better Accommodation & Convenience of A New Court house. 

Whereas the Chamber wherein the several Courts of Justice 
within this County have set for a great number of years past, is 
too small, & has linn found to be very inconvenient & uncomfort- 
able to the Judges, the Gent", of the Bar, the Jurors. Witnesses, 
& Parties concern'd, & all others that are necessarily Obliged to 
attend said Courts. & it having been intimated that said Chamber 
will greatly accomodate the General Court or Assembly that 
usually Sit in said house : And this Court having several times 
taken this Affair into Consideration, & relying upon the Justice of 
the General Court in making such an Allowance to the County for 
said Chamber, & such other Parts of said house which belong to 
the County, as shall be equitable, now Determine, And It is 
hereby Order'd that a New Courthouse within the Town of Bos- 
ton, for the Several Courts of Justice to Sit in. be Erected as 
soon as may be, and that Joshua Winslow Foster Hutchinson & 
John Tudor Esq™, be and they hereby are appointed a Committee 
to Erect an handsome Brick Building on the Lands Belonging to 
the County in Queen Street in Boston (on pari whereof the old 
Stone Goal lately stood) for the several Courts of Justice within 
this County to Sit in, that a large Comodious Chamber be assigned 
for said Courts, and that on the lower Mom- of said Building, s' 1 . 
Committee Assign & Sett oil' such Parts of it. for the Probate 



188 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Office, for the Register of Deeds, & for the Clerks of the Court of 
General Sessions of the Peace, & Courts of the Comon Pleas, as 
they shall Judge to be necessary & convenient for their respective 
Offices ; And said Committee are desired & Impower'd to do what- 
ever else they shall Judge Proper for compleating the same iu 
such a manner, as to make it most convenient: And It is further 
Order'd that said Building shall not exceed the dimensions fol- 
lowing Viz 1 : Of Sixty feet in length, & forty feet in breadth from 
outside to Outside, and said Committee are directed to make Re- 
port of their Doings hereon to this Court, as soon as may be, after 
s d . Courthouse is finish'd. 

Order'd that Joshua Winslow Foster Hutchinson & John Tudor 
Esq rs . the Committee appointed by this Court, to Erect the new 
Courthouse be and they hereby are directed and impower'd, (if 
they shall Judge it necessary) to hire Monies for carrying on said 
Building, and Pay Interest for the same, and that the County 
shall be chargeable, for such sums as they shall borrow & the In- 
terest thereof, and the Treasurer of the County for the time being 
is hereby directed to pay all such Monies as said Committee shall 
borrow, and the Interest that shall become due thereupon. 



"At a Court of General Sessions of the Peace, began and 
held at Boston, within and for the County of Suffolk, on the third 
Tuesday of April, being the eighteenth day of said month, An- 
noque Dom., 17G9, being the first Sessions in new Court house in 
Queen Street," etc., etc. 

May 1, 1770, the Committee appointed on the 30th of Jan- 
uary previous to examinine the accounts of the building reported 
the whole cost to be £2373. .17. .10^ lawful money and the 
Committee in charge of building was paid the further sum of 
£45. 







o 




/v?0A/ *J. G. //ALES ' "1AP 






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|f : ''/*V '" i.' J 
flip--- 'iltip' v?S T i-- "vufciw* ~ •__ = 4i' / wo 

I 







"_ 



APPENDIX L. 1S<) 

Dr. Moore states 1 thai tradition affirms thai Gov. Bernard de- 
signed these buildings, liis authority being William Sullivan, in 
his address to the Suffolk Bar. Dr. Moore also points oul that 
after the construction of the new Court House the offices of the 
clerks of the Supreme and Inferior Courts remained in the Town 
House, and that at the beginning of each term the Judges robed 
themselves there and marched in procession, followed by the bar, 
to the Court House. 

This custom he finds in use in 17<S.~>, and possibly later. 2 
Mayor Otis speaks of it as a well-known custom. 

This Court House, long distinguished as the County Court 
House, remained in use for a little over forty years. Then a di- 
vision of offices was made, and by Chap. 73 of Acts of ISO!) 
(dated March 1, 1810), the Justices of the Court of Common 
Pleas for Suffolk were empowered to purchase any lands between 

1 Moore's " Examination," etc., 1887, pp. 1", 20, 21. 

2 The following items from the < lourt Records seem to relate to this building : — 

Oct. 1, 1771, "Ezekiel Goldthwait, Esq. having made a Present to this County of his 
Majesty's Arms, Carved Gilt and Painted in a handsome manner, in order to be placed in 
tin- County Court Room, — the Justices of this Court Thanked Mr. Goldthwait for th<- 
Bame in < >pen < lourt, and < >rdered that a Record thereof be made." 

There are various bills ordered to be paid for the use of a room by a Grand Jury ; but 
January 5, 177:'., "John Bill, John Tudor and Edmund Quincy, Esq - are appointed a 
Committee to cause the Room adjoining to the Probate Office on the lower floor of the 
New Court House to be enlarged and made < !onvenient for the Grand Jurors of the < !ounty 
to .-it and do Busim 

April, 177::, John Hill and John Tudor were appointed " to cause two Pillars to be placed 
under the Gallery in the Conn Room." 

Oct. 7, 1777, "the Court give leave to the Committee of Correspondence ol Boston to 
Occupy the Room at the Southwest Corner of the Court house till further order." 

Tt may be a matter of doubt whether these last two items do nol rather refer to the 
Court room retained In the Town lions,-. The "southwest corner" and the "gallery" 
are familiar terms in the latter connection. 

l>r. Moore has shown that the gallery mentioned ante, p. 62, was existent in 1787 and 
in 17'. 1 ::. No research thus far, however, has succeeded in defining the exacl location 
thereof, or in settling the question whether the floor was open to the southwest and cen 
tral window on the west end, under the gallery. 



190 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Court street and School street, in Bostou, for erecting a Court 
House for said county, and making proper avenues to and around 
the same, to sell or exchange any land there belonging to the 
county and to borrow money and build a Court House. 

The building thus authorized was promptly erected and occu- 
pied mainly by the County and State Courts. But the old 
building still remained, and its history will be traced to the 
end. 

Pemberton, in 1 794, thus describes it : — 

" The new Court House is built on the front of the said street, 
partly on the ground where the old stone jail stood, which made 
an uncouth appearance and was taken down. It is a large, hand- 
some building of brick, three stories high, and has on the roof an 
octagon cupola. The lower floor is used partly for walking, and 
has on it the probate office and the office of the county registrar 
of deeds. In the second story, the floor of which is supported 
by pillars of the Tuscan order, are held the courts of law. In 
the second and third stories are convenient rooms for the grand 
and petit jurors, and for offices." 

Shaw, in 1817, writes of the old Court House : — 

"It is a handsome building of brick, three stories high, and 
has on the roof an octagon cupola, in which is a bell. On the 
lower floor are the offices of the United States District Marshal, 
Sheriff of the County, Clerk of the Municipal Court, the Provi- 
dent Institution or Saving Bank, and several private offices. In 
the second story, the floor of which is supported by pillars of the 
Tuscan order, are held the Circuit and District Courts of the 
United States for the Massachusetts District, and the office of the 
District Clerk. In the third story are convenient rooms for 
jurors, &c." 

Evidently, from about 1810 to 1840, this old building was sub- 
stantially the United States Court House. A view of the front 



APPENDIX L. 191 

will be seen in Salmon's view from Pemberton Hill in 1829, given 
previously in this volume. 

Iu 1831 or 1832 this old brick Court House was torn down, 
the corner-stone of the new building on the site being laid Sep- 
tember 28, 1833, and it was completed December 20, 1836. 

The cost was about $179,000, and iu 1839 a further sum of 
$17,000 was appropriated for the street around the building. The 
Court House was 1 70 feet by ">4, as first erected, and the annexed 
view shows its shape. 1 Later, iu December, 1860, the order was 
passed for a loan, and an addition was made at the west end of 
the lot of some thirty-six feet, leaving it on its present form. It 
was completed Dec. 31, 18G1. 

As is well known the city is now building a new and magnifi- 
cent Court House on the westerly and northerly side of Pemberton 
square, which will probably be ready for occupancy in 1890. At 
present the Court House is overflowing, and some courts are held 
in halls hired by the city. 



But from 1810 to 1836 the city had another Court House in 
contemporaneous use ; besides the Municipal Court Room in 
Leverett street, adjoining the Jail, from 1822 onwards. 

THE SCHOOL-STREET COURT HOUSE. 

In 1810, as we have seen, a stone Court House was built on the 
site now covered by City Hall. 

'The United States Courte, which had been held in Barristers' Building during the change, 
were returned to the new building. Owing to the incidents connected with the fugitive 
slave trial, the city notified the Courts to leave, and -January 1, 1855, they went to the Park- 
man house in Bowdoin square. Special trials were held in various halls, as the Trei 
Temple and Chapman Hall. Thence these Federal Courts were removed in August, i- 
the Masonic Temple building, on the corner of Temple place and I i ; and, in 

May, 1885, the Federal Courts were removed to the new Post-Office building, where they 
now are established. 



192 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

In 1817, Shaw thus describes it: "The New Court House is 
140 feet long, consists of an octagon centre 55 feet wide, two 
stories, two wings of three stories, 26 by 40 feet, connected by 
the entrance and passages to the centre ; contains two court-rooms 
in the centre, one smaller in one wing, Probate Office, Register of 
Deeds, Clerks of Supreme and Common Pleas Court, rooms for 
Judges and Law Library, rooms for Grand and Petit Juries. The 
cost of this building was $98,817.10." 

The annexed view from the " Polyanthus" for September, 1813, 
shows its appearance. The low building in front, on the spec- 
tator's left, was occupied by a fire-engine, the " Extinguisher." 

Snow, in his history, writes, in 1826 : " The lower story of the 
centre is improved by the Registrar of Deeds and Clerk of the 
C.C.P. ; the second story by the County Courts ; and the upper 
by the Common Council of the city. The Mayor and Aldermen's 
room is in the upper story of the western wing ; under that are the 
offices of the Auditor and City Marshal ; and on the lower floor 
the Probate Office. In the eastern wing are the offices of the 
Clerk of the S.J. Court-rooms, for the judges, and for the juries, 
and one occupied by the Law Library." 

Snow endeavored vainly to designate this building as "Johnson 
Hall." The annexed view is copied from an illustration in his 
book. 

Undoubtedly during the three years required for the rebuilding 
of the Court House on Court street, viz., 1833-1836, the Courts 
were held in the School-street building. 

Bowen, in his Picture of Boston, 1829 (p. 80), thus describes 
the building : — 

" It is, in fact, our City Hall, being principally occupied for 
municipal purposes. This building was erected in 1810, the ma- 
terials of which are of white granite, with a stone or brick floor 
for the first story. It is 140 feet long, consists of an octagon 



APPENDIX L. 193 

centre 55 feet wide two stories, two wings of three stories, 26 by 
40 feet, connected by the entrance and passages to the centre; 
contains two large halls or court-rooms in the centre, one smaller 
in one wing, Offices of Probate, Register of Deeds, Clerks of 
Supreme and Common Pleas Courts, rooms for Judges and Law- 
Library, rooms for Grand and Petit Juries. The board of Alder- 
men and Common Council hold their sessions in this building ; 
and the offices of the Mayor, City Clerk. City Auditor. City Mai- 
shall, and Superintendent of Burial Grounds, are also kepi here. 
The cost of the building to the county was 892,817.16." 

Boston became a city May 1, 1822, when the City Government 
was inaugurated in Faneuil Hall. The Mayor. City Council, and 
some of the city officers found accommodations in this Court 
House ; but, in 1830, they removed to the Old State House. For 
the next ten years, until 1840, the Court House seems to have 
reverted to its original uses, as Bowen, in 1838, does not mention 
any other occupants. The transfer of the building for use ;i- a 
City Hall, as hereinafter mentioned, in 1840, of course terminated 
its existence as a Court House. From that date the term has 
been confined to the building on Court street and Court square. 

The Police Court, which held its firs! session June 20. 1822, 
was accommodated in the Court House in Leverett street, as was 
also the Municipal Court, established June 2. 1800. Both were 
removed to the present Court House. January 1. 1837; and both 
were reorganized July 2. 1866, the Police Court as the Municipal, 
and the old Municipal as the Superior Court. 



Besides the two views noted on page 192, we have reproduced 
one which is found on a small platter, 10»J X 1% inches, of the 
well-known blue crockery. 

The date must be between L820 and 1830, as this piece i- one of 
the set of "Beauties <>f America. - ' made by J. & W . Ridgway, of 
Staffordshire, England. 



194 OLD STATE HOUSE HE-DEDICATION. 

THE CITY HALL. 

As is well known, Boston was the first city established in this 
State. At a town meeting on January 2, 1822, the vote in favor 
of applying for a city government resulted, yeas 2,805, nays 
2,006. An act was passed, approved b}' Governor Brooks, 
February 23, 1822, which was to be void if not accepted within 
twelve days. The vote stood on March 4, 1822, yeas 2,797, 
nays 1,881, a majority of 916. 

On May 1, 1822, the City Government was inaugurated in 
Faneuil Hall, John Phillips being the Mayor, and after retiring 
therefrom " the members of the respective boards met in separate 
rooms." 1 The records of the Common Council show that it 
organized in the Selectmen's room, and adjourned to meet in the 
Supreme Court room. May 6 the Council appointed a committee 
to prepare a room forthwith. No report or entry on the records 
show what room they obtained, but it seems beyond doubt that it 
was in the School-street Court House. 

Their records for 1823 show that in the autumn of that year a 
committee spent about $1,000 in fitting up the hall of the Common 
Council, and that it was a room which had been in use as a Court 
room. The clerk's desk was a table borrowed from the room of 
the Supreme Court. The Auditor's report 1822-3 shows some 
$450 spent on furniture for the Mayor and Aldermen's room. 

By an ordinance passed December 20, 1821. the following rooms 
were assigned to the city officers : — 

1. City Treasurer, in the room at the westerly end of the old 
State House. 

2. City Clerk, in the Mayor and Aldermen's room. 

3. Auditor, at the westerly end of the Court House, south side. 
1. Health Commissioners. Superintendent of Burying-G rounds, 

1 Quincy'e History, p. 44. 



APPENDIX L. 195 

and City Marshal, in the room at the westerly end of the Court 
House, north side. 

"). Clerk of the Common Council and the Captain of the Wat< h, 
in the room in the brick building opposite the south-west door of 
the Court House. 

6. Assessors, in the room on the easterly end of Faneuil Hall, 
on the south side. 



In September, 1826, on the petition of Sheriff Sumner, a com- 
mittee was appointed to confer with Judge Ward to make any 
neeessary changes in the Common Council Chamber, so as to 
accommodate the Court of Common Pleas. 

Snow, iu 1826, thus describes the building and occupants: 
" The lower story of the centre is improved by the Registrar of 
Deeds and Clerk of the C. C. P. ; the second story by the County 
Courts; and the upper by the Common Council of the city. The 
Mayor and Aldermen's room is in the upper story of the western 
wing; under that are the offices of the Auditor and City Mar- 
shal; and on the lower floor the Probate Office. In the eastern 
wing are the offices of the clerk of the S. J. Court rooms, for 
the judges, aud for the juries, and one occupied by the Law 
Library." 

In his inaugural address, in January, 1827, .Mayor Quincy, 
speaking in the County Court House, apparently in the Council 
Chamber, 1 advised changes. 

He said, "Nothing can be more inconvenient for facilitating 
business than the location of our public offices. The Mayoi and 
Aldermen, City Clerk. Auditor and Officer of Police, are in one 
building. The assistant City Clerk in another.'-' The Treasurer in 



1 Quincy's I [istorj . p 
- This was the < Herk of the ( ' mon i 



196 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

a third. The Assessors, Overseers of the Poor, and Directors of 
the House of Industry, in a fourth." 

He recommended a lire-proof building at the western end of 
Faneuil Hall, which would cost less than the proposed new Court 
House. He added that " a room as extensive in point of size 
as that at present occupied by the Supreme Judicial Court might 
be prepared in this building (the County Court House) for 
the courts of the United States ; and the present room, occupied 
by the Common Council, might be reserved for the Common 
Pleas." 

Bowen, in his "Picture of Boston," 1829, describes matters in 
1828. He says : — 

"The Mayor and Aldermen's room is a plain but convenient 
apartment in the third story of the west wing of the Stone Court 
House, Court square, in School street. A railing runs across the 
middle dividing it into two divisions : — the south side being for 
the accommodation of visitors, who are provided with settees. The 
north side has an elevated floor, which is carpeted. The chairs 
and tables are so arranged as to make half a circle ; the Mayor's 
chair in the centre and raised above the others. 

" The Common Council hold their sessions in the same building 
with the Board of Aldermen. The council room is in the third 
story and in the centre of the building. The President's seat is 
elevated at one side of the room, and the seats for the members 
are very conveniently arranged, having a gradual ascent from 
front to rear. 

" The City Clerk's office is in the Mayor and Aldermen's room." 
The Clerk of the Common Council has an oifice "in a small brick 
building in Court square. Salary $800 a year besides the fees for 
publishing the banns of matrimony. He attends to that duty 
every Thursday, immediately as the bell ceases to toll for the 
stated lecture of the Boston Ministerial Association." 



APPENDIX L. 11)7 

The City Treasurer's office " is in the second story of the west 
end of the Old State House." 

The City Marshal's office tl is kept on the second floor of the 
west wing of tin 1 Court House in School street." The Auditor's 
office tl is in the Court House, School street." 

The Assessors' office " is in Faueuil Hull." The Overseers of 
the Poor have an office "in the second story of Faueuil Hall." 

The School Committee meet in the Mayor's office. The office of 
the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department is u in the Old Court 
House, Court, street." 

The Probate office " is kept in the basement story of the west 
wing of the Stone Court House." The office of the -Register of 
Deeds is " in the centre of the same building with the Probate 
office, on the first floor." 



It seems, then, that from 1822 to l-S.'iO the city offices were dis- 
tributed in various buildings, but the Stone Court House took the 
place of a City Hall, since the City Council held its sessions there. 1 
It seems probable, also, that the Aldermen's room was on the third 
story, taking the west wing, and the Common Council Hall was 
on the same story in the centre; and that these rooms were so 
appropriated in the summer of 1822, and continued iii use until 
the removal in 1830 to the old State House. 

I have been unable to find any plans in. the archives of the City 
Architect showing the arrangement of rooms in this building be- 
fore 1830. There are a number of the sketches for the proposed 



'Quite erroneously it is stated in the " Account of Laying the Coiner Stone of the New 

( ity Hall, I860," that Faneuil Hall was the firsl City Hall. It was here that the firs! city 
government was organized, . - ■ and it continued t>> be occupied by the city officers, till 
Sept. 17, 1S30, when the ,.1,1 State House was remodelled. This statement is clearlj ci ra 
dieted by the facts stated in the text 



198 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

alterations in 1840, and some of the new Court House in Court 
square. 

STATE-STREET SITE. 

We have already seen that in 1830 the city officers were re- 
moved to the old State House, which for ten years was the Cit}^ 
Hall. (A description is given, ante, pp. 113, 114, 115.) 

RETURN TO SCHOOL STREET, 1840. 

In 1839 the City Council appropriated $60,000 for the purchase 
of land in Court square and on School street, and $500 as a pre- 
mium for a plan for a new City Hall. City Doc. No. 9, of 1840, 
reports that they had plans from Asher Benjamin, Richard Bond, 
and G.J. F. Bryant, costing from $28,000 to $24,000, for altera- 
tions of the County Court House for this purpose; one from 
Cornelius Coolidge for $25,000; one for 12,000 from a person 
unnamed, and one from Charles Roath, for inside work, at 
$3,400. These plans, or some of about that date, are still pre- 
served in the City Architect's office. We annex a view copied 
from the "Sketches of Boston," printed in 1851. An addition 
lias since been built on the west end. 

None of these plans were adopted, but after a long dispute 
between the branches it was decided, July 27, 1840, to fit up the 
old Court House. "According to a third plan, keeping the en- 
trances as they now are, the present stairs might be taken away, 
and new stairs carried up in the rear of the main part of the 
building, conforming precisely, in the second and third stories, in 
all the arrangements to the plan heretofore submitted to the Coun- 
cil l»y Mr. Preston," and costing $9,475. To this sum was to be 
added $3,000 for an iron fence, and grading the land in front; 
$1,000 for gas fixtures, and $1,000 for heating apparatus. 

On March 18, 1841, a convention of both branches was held 







o 



APPENDIX L. 199 

to dedicate the new City Hall, and the Mayor, Jonathan ( nap- 
man, delivered an address. However convenient the Hall may 
have proved, there seems to have been very little pride evinced in 
its external appearance. At least, while nearly every ether large 
building in the city has been made familiar to us by numerous en- 
gravings, probably the only artistic picture of this Hall during its 
second civic occupancy is the one engraved by a German, F. 
Coth, in 185G, and published in Munich. This is only one of a 
scries of views illustrative of Boston on one large plate. A re- 
production is annexed. A small wood-cut of the City Hall is, 
however, given on p. -_".i of a. guide-book published in 1865, 
entitled, " Boston Sights," edited by R. L. Midgley. A view 
aiso appears on the title-page of the Boston Directory from 
is.-).", to 1859. 

It is well remembered that the increase in the city's affairs soon 
rendered this City Hall too contracted for usefulness, and that 
measures were taken for constructing a new building. A com- 
mittee, iu 1802. submitted a plan, at an estimated cost of 8160,000, 
and the corner-stone was laid Dec. 22, Cstli'. The size of the 
new building allowed the foundation and front wall to be erected, 
and prepared for the corner-stone, while the City Government 
occupied the old City Hall. The last meeting of the Board of Al- 
dermen therein was on January 7, 1863; and on January 12 
the Board met at the Mechanics' Hall, on the corner of Bedford 
and Chauncy streets, where rooms had been hired for the City 
Council, and some departments. (See cut on next page.) Here, 
then, was the actual City Hall for more than eighteen months, the 
last session of the Board there being on Saturday. September 16, 
L865. ( )n the Monday following, a convention of both branches 
was held at the New City Hall to dedicate it. and that building has 
since remained in use, although no longer capable of housing all 
the departments of the government under its roof. 



200 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 



The estimated cost was $160,000, though no one expeeted that 
the expense would be covered by that sum. Some changes were 
made in the plan, but the great apparent increase in the price 
paid was caused by the premium on gold. Accordingly, the com- 
mittee in charge felt authorized to claim that the total expense of 
$505,191.4:?, as paid, was not owing to any extravagance or in- 
crease of plans. The exterior of the building has proved entirely 
satisfactory, and engraved views are numerous. 

In 1886 the city hired the estates Xos. 12 and 14 Beacon 
street, belonging to the Lexington Buildings Association, and has 
brought together a number of city departments heretofore located 
in several buildings. 










y '"^s^^^ 



ill fc'lPJJ i; iRjffl 

iilJiM^Il^.ll 




Vi^:dPt-*fej#-'fS. : : -| 5».|->"T 




.Mm hanks' Hall, Bedford and Chatjno Streets, Boston. 



APPENDIX M. 201 



API'KNDIX M. 



[prefatory note.] 

After the publication o\' the second edition of this memorial 
volume, :ui interesting address, entitled " PrytaneumBostoniense," 
was delivered before the Bostonian Society, by Dr. George II. 
Moore, of New York. It contained many interesting additions to 
the text of this volume, but also put forth criticisms which 
seemed unfounded. Still, on account of the value of the whole 
production, leave was obtained from the author to reprint it as 
Appendix M, in the third edition of this volume ; and it was 
thought proper and necessary to print therewith a rejoinder 
in correction of apparent errors. 

Dr. Moore, on February 'J, 1886, read a second paper before 
the Bostonian Society, and it was widely distributed. This essay 
was much more distinctly controversial, and I therefore prepared 
and published a reply, addressed to and circulated among the 
members of that Society. This has called forth, in 1887, a 
third paper from Dr. Moore, exclusively devoted to an examina- 
tion of my published statements. 

When the City Council, in the present year, directed a new 
edition of this volume to be published, I was in doubt as to the 
best course to pursue in regard to this published controversy. 

The first two papers were already in the preceding edition, but 
the subsequent numbers could, by no stretch of courtesy, be re- 
garded as of equal value. Moreover. I was unwilling to appear 



202 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

to be using rny position to reprint a pamphlet for which the city 
was in no way responsible. After careful consideration it seemed 
best to again reprint all Ihe historical portions of Dr. Moore's first 
paper, and to state briefly the substance of his criticisms of the 
text of the Address contained in the foregoing pages. It will be 
found that the points in dispute are ludicrously few ; and, with one 
exception, of no importance. As the former appendix regarding 
the Court House lias been rewritten, I have been able to correct 
my errors and omissions, and thereby to obviate the necessity of 
reprinting Dr. Moore's personalities. 

I would, however, say that Dr. Moore's three papers are well 
worth perusal by any one interested in the details of the history 
of our venerable and honored building. I should have liked to 
reprint a few more of his facts from his second paper, but in their 
present argumentative setting there is too little history and too 
much debate. 



Leaving out the questions connected with the transfer of the 
Courts from the old State House to the new Court House, in 
1769, Dr. Moore's charges of error seem to be 

1. In stating on p. S7 that the trial of Capt. Preston and his 
soldiers was held in the Council Chamber. 

2. In stating in Appendix X ( 3d edition, p. 201) that the 
colony bought out in 177(1 the right of Suffolk County in a room 
in the old State House. 

3. That I thrice printed, as a quotation, the blunder of a 
av! iter who made the date of the burning of the Gaol, June 30, 
1769, instead of January 30th, 1769. 

4. The question as to the apportionment of the rooms on the 
second floor. 

As to the first, I may have been in error, although Dr. Moore 



APPENDIX M. 203 

cites no authority for the place of trial. It may have been the 
new Court House in Court street; but there are also previous 
precedents for the use of Representatives' Hall for greal trials. 

As to the second, I cheerfully confess that I mistook the order 
of the Genera] Court to consider what was due the county for a 
real settlement. No doubt Dr. Moore is correct in saying that 
the matter was noi then settled. 

As to the third. I cannot deny the clerical error. To be sure, 
on p. 208, I gave the true date and a full copy of the proceedings 
of the Judges on January 31, 1769 ; hut it was a grievous error: 
and the reader will be justified in thereafter doubting every date 
or statement of the wretched author. 



There remains for consideration, lastly, the really important 
question as to whether the halls in the Old State House are a 
proper and substantial reproduction of the rooms as they existed 
from 174.S to 1798. In his first paper, Dr. Moore made the fol- 
lowing condemnatory statement: — 

•• No such division of the space on the second floor as the 
present existed at any time during the official use of the building 
by tin- Legislature, Colonial, Provincial, Revolutionary, or State." 

After carefully considering everything that has been written on 
the subject by Dr. Moore, I find no evidence to justify any such 
sweeping remark. He has no contemporary plan of the building 
or anj' story of it; no description not already given in the text: 
and at most only a few incidental references to details which are 
themselves capable of various interpretations. 

It is true that during the first twenty odJ years a portion of 
the western end of the second floor was used as a Court room. 
It is true that a gallery was placed somewhere at the westerly cm\ 
of Representatives' Hall, and that a stair-case was in the north- 



204 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

westerly corner. But it is also true that in 1770 a committee of 
the Legislature was empowered to make such changes in this 
westerly end as they saw fit; and, as no report of their doings in 
detail has been preserved, no one can say that they did not do just 
what has now been done, viz., carry the limits of the hall to the 
outside walls. 

As to the more important question of the existence of the cen- 
tral stairway, giving access to the Council Chamber, Dr. Moore 
has produced no evidence. The weight of authority is all in favor 
of the fact that the Council Chamber was a square room, witli 
lobbies towards the centre of the building. The architect who 
examined the timbers when they were all exposed, reports that in 
his opinion there is ample evidence of a central stairway anterior 
to 1830. After all the searches made in support of a hostile criti- 
cism, this opinion remains unshaken and authoritative. 

The problem before the representatives of the city at the date of 
the recent restoration was to so repair and reconstruct the old 
halls and approaches as to give a true idea of the former ap- 
pearance. The committee, of course, was not as well informed of 
the facts as the public now is after all the discussion of the sub- 
ject. But the committee was aware of the fact that during the 
fifty years of occupancy by the Legislature many temporary 
changes had been made. They knew that a gallery was built in 
the Hall twenty years after its first opening ; that for twenty 
years a part of the hall had been set off as a Courtroom, and 
then abandoned; that a small lobby and staircase once occupied a 
pail of the west end. lint as no one period covered all the time, 
and as some choice must be made, they wisely decided to leave 
out these contradictory details, especially as the best authority 
seemed to indicate that the last stage of occupancy included a 
single hall on the westerly half. 

The future student will doubtless wonder at the amount of 




k i i m rv 



M- 



HM 





Rod its' Plan, L830. 



APPENDIX M. 205 

writing, not t<> say of feeling, caused by the action of the 
restorers of the halls. He will be satisfied thai the halls 
and stairways are reasonably correcl representations of the 
originals; and that where certainty was unattainable, and the 

matter in doubt was trifling, the agents of the cit v did wisely 
in following the advice of their architect. Above all, a matter 
that reduces all of Dr. Moore's cavils to insignificance, it is 
beyond doubt or dispute that the four walls, the timbers, and 
the window-spaces are just what they were when they were first 
constructed, and that the legislative chambers occupied nearly 
the whole floor. After all disputes about stairways, when 
the visitor lands upon the second floor he is within the same 
cubical space exactly that enclosed the Council and the 
Legislature of Massachusetts from 1747 to 1798. There has 
been no change of the boundaries, above, below, or on either 
hand. The partitions may vary a foot or two, but the scene 
is substantially the same. This inheritance remains to us to 
be kept for posterity, and it has no equal among all the other 
buildings connected with Revolutionary events. So long as 
we can stand in the room which echoed to the eloquence of 
Quincy, Otis, Gushing, and the Adamses, we can afford to 
laugh at the carping critic who deties us to locate to an inch 
the position of the chairs whereon they sat. 

As the only evidence known to exist of the state of the 
building in 1830, the annexed facsimile of a plan made by 
Isaiah Rogers will be found of interest. The dotted lines 
represent pencil marks, and the leader can judge whether 
the architect in making his sketch was adapting exist [no 
walls to a new purpose or was making entirely new divisions 
of the entire floor. No description yet recovered throws the 
slightest light on this vital point. It must also be added 
that every authority, save one casual newspaper comment at 



206 OLD STATE HOUSE EE-DEDICATION. 

the date, agrees in calling the changes made in 1830 "repairs." 
The bills on file at City Hall give no warrant for supposing 
any great changes were made, and the amount of money ex- 
pended would not pay for any radical alteration inside the 
building. 

In conclusion I would say that the items collected by Dr. 
Moore, though interesting, are only supplementary to the main 
text, and that they do not supersede the necessity of such a gen- 
eral history of the building as I essayed. 

As to my oration, 1 beg leave to add that it was prepared in 
accordance with a vote of the committee of the City Council, 
dated April 25, 1882; and that it was delivered from a printed 
copy, June 29, 1882. The limited time at my disposal in prepar- 
ing it, or in revising it for the Memorial Volume, is my best 
excuse for any shortcomings. I wish it were better ; but, had we 
waited for such an address as others could have prepared, I fear 
it would have been a funeral oration over the remains of our 
greatly threatened building. 

After the address had been printed and made permanent in 
form, I did not feel justified in altering it, preferring to add 
notes and appendices as new facts might be found. 

I feel constrained also to repeat the closing words of Appendix 
N of the last edition of this " Memorial," in regard to the great 
liberality displayed by the City Council of Boston in 1881 : "In 
view of the culpable negligence so often shown by national, State, 
or local authorities in the matter of preserving antiquarian relics, 
it was a most generous gift to the public. The expenditure of 
some thirty-five thousand dollars outright and the sacrifice of 
several thousand dollars of annual income were an enlightened and 
almost unprecedented act by a city government. If the commit- 
tee fell short of the best use of its opportunities, it was not from 
lack of good intentions or industry. But, in fact, the city was 



APPENDIX M. '207 

not deceived by its agents; it, has the mosl authentic importaul 
relic of ante-revolutionary days now in existence, and, whatever 
trifling faults maybe discovered hereafter, the Old State House 
will stand as an indisputable proof of the wise liberality of the 
city of Boston." 

WILLIAM II. WHITMORE. 



208 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 



EXTRACTS FROM AN ADDRESS ENTITLED " PRYTANEUM 
BOSTONIENSE," DELIVERED BY DR. GEORGE H. MOORE. 
BEFORE THE BOSTONIAN SOCIETY, MAY 12, 1875. 



The fire of December 9th, 1747, left nothing of the second Court 
House but the bare walls ; and the Legislature which was sitting at 
the time speedily terminated the session, after requesting the 
Selectmen of Boston to secure those walls from the weather by 
causing them to be covered with boards in the best and cheapest 
manner. They sat four days after the fire, and being then pro- 
rogued to the 3d February, 1748, met on that day at Faneuil 
Hall, which had been promptly tendered by the Selectmen on the 
day of the fire for the service of the House. Governor Shirley, 
in his opening speech, duly reminded the General Court of the 
necessity for speedy action to repair or rebuild the Court House, 
and a week later the brisk debates commenced, of which the first 
result in the House of Representatives was a resolution that a 
Court House should be built in some other part of the Province 
than the Town of Boston, provided the Court agree upon the 
place ; which was immediately followed by a resolution that Cam- 
bridge should be the place. 

On the two following days, February 11th and 12th, after a 
good deal of manoeuvring, the matter was reconsidered, and a 
special committee was appointed to examine and report what they 
might apprehend proper to be done respecting the repairing the 
late Court House or building a new house in such place as should 
appear most convenient. The chairman of that committee was 
the Speaker of the House, afterwards so conspicuous in history 
as Governor Hutchinson, and I may say at once that it was to him 
more than to any other man that the Town of Boston was indebted 
for keeping the Court House there. 

On the 1 7th February he reported to the House that it was the 
opinion of the committee that the late Court House be repaired ; 
and that the charge thereof should be borne agreeably to the last 



APPENDIX M. 209 

establishment: i.e., one half by the Province, the other half to be. 
divided between the County of Suffolk and the Town of Boston. 

After debate the report was rejected, and by two successive 
votes it was resolved that the Court House should not be built in 
any part of Boston, and that it should be built in the town of lv»x- 
bury. AYhereupon a joint committee was resolved upon to report 
a proper place in Roxbury for the said house and to consider of 
dimensions as well as the method of providing its charge, and the 
resolution was sent to the Council for concurrence, which was 
forthwith refused by a unanimous vote. After further debate 
the House again sent up the same proposition, substantially, which 
met the same fate as the former. 

Upon receiving information of this result, on the 19th February, 
the House ordered the further consideration of the subject to be 
referred to the next session of the Court. 

On the 2d of March the Governor again moved in the matter, 
urging the present and prospective inconveniences they were 
suffering and likely to suffer ; and the House upon the next day, 
to which they had postponed consideration of the Governor's 
Message, consented to reconsider their vote of delay. They then 
took a new departure by deciding that the old house should not 
be repaired, but that a new one should be built in the Town of 
Boston, and a joint committee was appointed (the Council con- 
curring in this vote) to consider and report on a proper place in 
that town. 

In the afternoon of the following day the House was informed 
by their chairman of the joint committee that he was directed to 
propose to the House that they should go at once to view the 
Common and Fort Hill, and determine which was the most con- 
venient place to build a new Court House in, as the said com- 
mittee were divided in their sentiments upon that affair. 

After a debate the House refused to accept the report, and 
postponed the consideration of the affair until the following 
Wednesday, the 9th of March. Upon that and the following 
day the result reached was the determination to repair the late 
Court House: one-half the charges to be paid by the Province, 
one-fourth by the County of Suffolk, and one-fourth by the 
Town of Boston. A committee was appointed to purchase ma- 



210 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

terials, and to prepare a plan of the inside work, with an estimate 
of the charge, to be laid before the Court at the next session. 
The committee very promptly purchased a great part of the 
materials, and reported that fact to the House with their proposed 
plan, evidently to prevent any further vacillation on the part of 
the House. An appropriation was immediately proposed, and 
the first grant for purchasing materials — £100 — was made on the 
8th of April, 1748, and concurred in by the Council, with the 
consent of the Governor, on the following day. 

The consideration of the plan reported was then made the 
special order for the following Tuesday, April 12th, at three 
o'clock P.M., when, " after a debate," it was adopted. 

It should be observed here that this I'esult was precisely that 
which was proposed in Speaker Hutchinson's first report on the 
subject, on the 17th February. 

Several attempts were made afterwards in the House to interfere 
with this determination ; but they were unsuccessful, and the 
work was carried on to completion. The only important change 
in the plan first submitted and determined ou was made on the 19th 
November, 1748, when a proposition by the Building Committee 
to enlarge the Representatives' Room in the Town House, then 
rebuilding, was agreed to by the House. 

This modification in the plan by which the Representatives' Room 
in the new Town House was enlarged was an obvious necessity. In 
1728 there were 128 towns in the Province capable of sending Rep- 
resentatives, and in 1748 the number had increased to 153. 

The materials are scanty for the illustration of the plain official 
record of the controversy between Boston and the country party on 
this occasion ; but it is apparent that the major part of the House 
of Representatives was then averse to rebuilding the Court House 
in Boston, and disposed to build a house for the General Court in 
some town in the country. The lines were very strictly drawn. 
All the efforts of the Bostonians could not prevail for an entirely 
new structure ; and upon the test question whether a grant should 
be made for rebuilding the old one the House was equally divided, 
and the Speaker gave his casting voice in favor of the town. 

That Speaker was Thomas Hutchinson, who had and continued 
to "have still" (at a later period, when he found occasion to 



APPENDIX M. 211 

refer to these transactions) " a very good Affection for the Town 
of Boston." He used his influence in every way he could with 
propriety, in favor of rebuilding the Court House in Boston. I 
take pleasure in recalling these obscure facts respecting one of the 
most gifted of her sons, who has had scant measure of justice in 
her history. 

The proceedings of the anti-Boston party in all this matter to 
which I have referred were not the first of their kind. In Jan- 
uary, 1739, a committee was appointed by the House of Repre- 
sentatives to consider, in the recess of the Court, " of some proper 
place in some one of the Country Towns of the Province (not too 
remote from Boston) wherein to build a Court House for the use 
of the General Assembly, that so the public business may be 
attended to with more ease and freedom of the members, and be 
transacted with greater dispatch ; as also to project some proper 
plan for the building, and ways and means best to effect it, and 
make report at the next sitting of the Court." 

Accordingly, on the 21st of April, 1739, the committee reported 

in favor of a new Court House at , and that two acres of land 

there be purchased for a site. They found, with the help of their 
architects, that it would cost about £5,000, new tenor. They 
presented two plans by the architects, and gave their own opinion 
that the model should be drawn from both of them to suit the 
Court. They proposed to raise the mone}' by an additional excise 
of twopence per gallon, new tenor, on spirituous liquors for the 
space of six years to come ; any deficiency to be made up by a 
tax on polls and estates the next year. The debate which en- 
sued resulted in a postponement to the next Court. 

The movements of the anti-Boston party which I have detailed 
were not all to which I have to direct your attention. The new 
building was hardly completed before a fresh proposition for a 
new Court House was made and determined upon by the General 
Court. 

Admiral Sir Peter Warren, in August, 1749, offered to the 
Province of Massachusetts as a present the money he received 
as commissioner for handling the money due for the Cape Breton 
Expedition. It was a handsome sum, and the Admiral conveyed 
with his offer an intimation of his wishes respecting its use bv the 



212 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Province. The intimation was disregarded, and the following 
proceedings took place in the General Court : — 

"On February 19th, 1751, Voted, That a Letter of Thanks from 
this Court for so generous a Benefaction (signed by the Sec- 
retary) be sent to that Gentleman, and to inform him : That 
in order to perpetuate his Memory among us ; It is the Determi- 
nation of this Court, that said Money be applied towards the 
building a Court House in some Place out of the Town of Boston, 
and where this Court may hereafter appoint. 

" On Februar}- 19th a vote of Council was brought down to dele 
the whole paragraph respecting the building a Court House to 
perpetuate his Memory, &c. The House made a further Amend- 
ment that the said House be erected in the Town of Cambridge 
and adhered to their own vote as so amended, which was sent up 
for concurrence. 

"On February 22d the Council concurred in the Vote for a Court 
House, at Cambridge, the Lieutenant-Governor signed it, &c., 
and on the same day a letter was authorized by both branches, 
communicating ' the Determination of the Court, that the Build- 
ing proposed to be erected shall always be known and called by 
the name of WARREN HALL.' " 

The generous and sensible Admiral did not acquiesce in this 
extraordinary proposition, which therefore failed ; and Cam- 
bridge, like other towns " not too far from Boston," did not have 
the Court House. I find a remark of " the good Secretary " 
Willard, who conducted the correspondence in behalf of the 
General Court, which deserves quotatiou. He writes to the 
Admiral: "As their project for a Court House was much dis- 
liked by the wisest and most disinterested men, so the employ- 
ment of the money for the Instruction of the Mohawk Children, 
as you have designed it. is I believe generally much approved of." 

Nor are these I have noticed all the instances of the disposition 
of a strong party in the Legislature to take the Court House out 
of Boston. The subject was revived in 1754, when, on the 18th 
December, it was " Ordered, That the House will take under con- 
sideration the affair of removing the Court House out of the Town 
of Boston, to-morrow at eleven o'clock in the forenoon. 

"December 19th. The House, according to order, took under 






APPENDIX M. 213 

consideration the affair of removing the Court House out of the 
Town of Boston; and after a Debate had thereon the question 
whs put, l Whether thru' shall be erected a Court House out of the 
Town of Boston?' ' And it passed in the affirmative. 

•• And thereupon Resolved, That there shall be a Court House 
erected for the holding the General Assembly of this Province in 
some part of the town of Watertown. Sent up for concurrence. 

" It was also further 

" Ordered, That Col. Brattle, Mr. John Hunt, and Judge Rus- 
sell, with such as the Honorable Board join, be a Committee to 
repair to the Town of Watertown to pitch upon a convenient 
Place whereon to erect a Court House for the holding of the Gen- 
eral Assembly of this Province, inquire at what price the land 
statable for said Building and its accommodations may be had, 
prepare a plan of the Building proposed, and report thereon to this 
Court as soon as may be. Sent up for concurrence. 

" January 4th, 17")"). Upon inquiry by the House, their messen- 
ger was informed that the Board had non-concurred in the vote 
respecting a Court House." 

The last of the series of propositions of this sort which I have 
to mention was in 17*7, June 16th, when another effort to remove 
the seat of government from this town was made ; and a com- 
mittee appointed, who reported in favor of Concord as a suitable 
place for a new Capitol. 

The political year 1749-50 was that in which the Court House. 
which had been rebuilt in fact upon and in the old walls of its pre- 
decessor, was reoccupied. I have not been a hie to ascertain the 
exact date, but a contemporary statement is, that on the 13th 
July, 1749, the repairs were nearly finished, and the Commissioners 
on the Land Bank were to meet in a room there on the 19th of 
that month. ......... 

2fo such division of the space on the second floor 
as tli" present existed at any time during the official use of thebuild- 
ing by the Legislature, Colonial, Provincial, Revolutionary, or 
State. During the entire Colonial and Provincial periods there 
were three chambers or apartments which I have mentioned, with 
their respective. lobbies, and al least two entries. The great in- 
crease in the number of representatives demanding more room f^v 



214 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

the House during the Revolution, the Representatives' Chamber 
was enlarged by taking in the Court Chamber, the Council 
Chamber still remaining the same ; and when the State Govern- 
ment was organized the Senate took possession of it, the Gov- 
ernor and Council being obliged to find quarters in the Province 
House, where were also kept at that time the offices of the Secre- 
tary and Treasurer. 

The upper portion of the building was left for several years in 
an unfinished state, and only gradually brought into use. I think 
there were two rooms at the respective Eastern and Western ends, 
which may have been provided at first ; for, on the 14th February, 
1756, "the Room in the Upper Story at the West End of the 
Court House" was duly appropriated by an order of Court to the 
use of committees during the time of the Court's sitting. And on 
the 27th August in the same year an order passed the House, 
that the members for the Town of Boston be directed to cause one 
or more chambers in the upper story on the south side of the Court 
House to l>e finished for the accommodation of committees of the 
General Court. 

The Town of Boston also seems to have enjoyed additional 
benefits besides their public walk and exchange on the first floor, 
by the assignment of one of those first upper chambers for use by 
their officials. This appears from the following proceedings in the 
House of Representatives on the 

" 21st Jan. 1761. Inasmuch as the Select-Men of the Town of 
Boston sit to do business in their Easternmost upper chamber of the 
Court House, and the Small-Pox frequently breaking out neces- 
sitates those Persons in whose Houses it is at first discovered, as 
well as many of the Physicians iu the Town, to attend them; this 
House apprehend it unsafe for such persons to pass and repass the 
Door of this House. Therefore, 

" Voted, That said Select-Men be desired to remove their office 
from said Chamber, and provide themselves with some other 
suitable place, at the Charge of the Government, during the present 
Sitting of this Court." 



The chambers were all plain in construction, and their fittings 



APPENDIX M. 215 

and furniture simple in character, with probably hardly a touch of 
extravagance anywhere. 

The Council Chamber was furnished with a large table and 
chairs, and one or more glazed bookcases stood in the room, in 
which were preserved with care some valuable books which had 
been presented by liberal citizens and friends of the Province, 
among which I may mention the Hon. Benj. Lynde's gift of the 
Statutes at Large, in sis volumes folio, for the use of the Courts of 
Common Law sitting in this House, as well as the Legislature; 
and a complete set of the History and Proceedings of the Houses 
of Lords and Commons from the Reign of King Charles the II. 
viz. : eight volumes of the Proceedings of the Lords and fourteen 
of the Proceedings of the Commons, from Isaac Royal, Esq., of 
Charlestown. 

The Royal Arms, also, which were subsequently removed and 
carried to St. John, N.B., where they now decorate a church, 
must have been a conspicuous feature in the Chamber. With 
reference to this subject and another intimately connected with it, 
as will appear, I think you will pardon me if I go back a little to 
recall a few memories of the first and second Town Houses, which 
were burned. 

As early as May 25, 1636, or during the May session of the 
General Court, it was ordered that in " places of judicature, the 
King's ma tie9 armes slialbe erected soe sone as they can be hadd." 
(Mass. Records, 175.) But, notwithstanding Jiiis "order for ye 
King's armes to be set up," it is not probable that thev were " to 
be hadd " in that jurisdiction for a long time afterward, or that 
they soon became visible in the high places of judgment. 

It was not until 1678, when the agents of the General Court 
were struggling against their enemies at Court and warding off the 
blows levelled at their charter, that they were compelled to show 
their recognition of the royal authority by taking the oath of alle- 
giance and exhibiting the ensigns armorial of England in their hall 
of assembly. The records state that " the King's armes also the 
Court have ordered to be forthwith carved by an able artist and 
erected in the Court House." I suppose this is all we can hope to 
know about the arms or the artist. 

But, in 1705, we come upon nearer and a little surer ground. 



216 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Governor Dudley, in a letter to the Lords of Trade, March 10, 
1705, quoted by Palfrey, iv., 295, note, says : — 

" I have received her Majesty's picture and coat-of-arms. The 
arms were the next day fixed in the Council Chamber of this 
Province . . . Her Majesty's picture 1 have set up in my 
own house, where it is always in the view of all masters of sea, 
strangers, and others who are bound to make their attendance, 
and where the counsellors and gentlemen of the country frequently 
are." 

I have not discovered how long Dudley kept the queen's por- 
trait at his own house in Roxbuiy ; but it was placed in the Town 
House, where it belonged before the fire in 1711, in which that 
house was destroyed. The Royal Picture Gallery thus seems to 
have had its origin in the time of Queen Anne. Chalmers states 
that Queen Anne gave her portrait to every colony, and more 
than intimates a degree of churlishness in Massachusetts on its re- 
ception there. " A trivial fact throws additional light on the 
temper of that assembly [1706-7] : they refused to address the 
queen, in return for her portrait, wherewith she had honored 
every colony, though the compliment, demanded by the civility of 
a woman, far less the respect due to the condescension of their 
sovereign, had impugned no privilege, had imposed no duty, had 
enforced no act of Parliament." — Introduction to the History of 
the Colonies, 310. 

This portrait escaped destruction in the great fire of 1711, in 
which " the Town House and the Meeting House, with many fair 
Buildings were consumed, and several Persons Kill'd and burn'd. 
Some Gentlemen took care to preserve Her Majesty's Picture that 
was in the Town House." — Boston News Letter, No. 390, October 
1-8, 1711. 

I have met with no record of the fate of the portraits of the 
queen sent to other colonies. Only among the archives of Vir- 
ginia, indeed, have I as yet found any notice whatever of so con- 
spicuous and interesting a gift. This appears in the shape of a 
bill of charges from the attorneys of Col. Francis Nicholson, then 
Governor, for expenses in England attending the gift. They are 
embodied in an " Account of the charges for Obtaining the 
Queen's Picture and Queen's Armes, with two Carved guilt 
Frames, for her Majestie's Province of Virginia. 



APPENDIX M. 217 

179f For an order of Couucill for the Picture . . £2 L2 6 

p d for a Copy to Coin S3 of Trade .... ."» 

For ditto for Queen's Armes to i.' 1 Marshall . . 2 12 6 

p d for a Copy to Com 88 of Trade .... 5 

1703 For y e L d Chamberlaine's 3 War G. Kneller") ., ., 

April 20th L d Montague & her Maf os Frame .Maker )' 

]i fl Clerk's Fees . . . . 15 

p d Chamber Keeper . . . . . . 2 G 

June 9th p d Fees at Treasury for Counter Signeing L' 1 

Chamberlaine's War* for 2 Anns, Etc., En tcd . 17 6 
July 5th p d gave S r G. Kneller's chief man Mr. Bland, 
Clerk at y e wardrobe, framemaker's Serv' w 1 
Cartage, Porters, and Boat byre to Key . . 2 " 



It is fair to say that these charm's, amounting in all to eleven 
pounds and thirteen shillings, on being submitted to the Legis- 
lature of Virginia, were refused payment, and the claim was " re- 
jected as being no Country charge." It is painful to observe 
that if the sons of the cavaliers were not more liberal with their 
thanks than with their money Mr. Chalmers might have in- 
cluded them in the rebuke he recorded l\n- the men of Massa* 
chusetts. 

Before the year 1739 the gallery had been enriched by the 
addition of the portraits of King George the First and King 
George the Second, together with those of the then late Queen 
Caroline 1 and the Princess Sophia." In June, lT.'i'.h the Province 
ordered copies of the pictures of King "William an 1 Queen Mary, 
of glorious Memory, to be procured by their agenl in England from 
the best originals that can be found at full length, in order for their 
being se1 up in the Council Chamber with the pictures of their 
Majesties' Royal Successors. The resolution did not omit to com- 
memorate the fact that it was in the fourth year of the reign of 
William and Mary that "His Majesty's good Subjects of this 



'Queen Caroline, of Brandenburg Anspach, b. 1682, d. 1737, wife of George II. in 
and grand ther of < teorge III. 

- Princess Sophia, sister of '• ge [I., wife of Frederic William [., ol Prussia, and mother 

of Frederic the ( rreat. 



218 OLD STATE HOUSE EE-DEDICATION. 

Province were happily incorporated by the present Royal 
Charter." 

The first Town House also contained the beginnings of the first 
public library in America, for which provision was made in its 
original foundation by Capt. Robert Keayne directing " a conven- 
ient room for a Library." Occasional notices maybe found of 
this Library, showing that it had been established or begun; and 
when the building was destroyed by fire, in 1711. portions of it 
appear to have been saved, for when the new house was completed, 
in 1713, the public were duly advised by advertisement to the 
effect that "All persons that have in their keeping, or can give 
Notice of any of the Town Library ; or other things belonging to 
the Town House in Boston before the late fire, are desired to 
inform the Treasurer of the said Town thereof, in order to their 
being returned." — Boston News Letter, No. 177, June 1-8, 1713. 

1 have met with few notices of the Library in connection with 
the second Town House, and if any part was restored to that 
building, it must have perished in the fire of 1747, with all " the 
pictures of the Kings and Queens " which I have mentioned. 



I have notes of description, made by an intelligent and observ- 
ing stranger in 1 7 < i 'J . He says of the •• decorations" at the Town 
House: "Lithe Council Chamber the pictures of Charles the 2d; 
dames the 2d: and George the 2d. at full length, and the copies 
of the pictures of Governor Winthrop, Governor End icott, Gov- 
ernor Leverett, Governor Bradstreet, Governor I'.urnett, and the 
picture three-quarters of Governor Pownall. // the Representa- 
tives' Room, the picture of Admiral Russell, betwixt the windows 
above the Speaker's chair. There is carved above the door the 
ancient arms of the Province, and in the middle of the ceiling hangs 
& carved wooden codfish, Emblem of the staple of Commodities of 
the Province." 

Tlu> Representatives' Chamber was similar to its neighboring 
apartment on the east, but provided with wooden seats oi 
benches for the members, arranged on the sides of the room. In 
1773 an order was made to provide cushions for these seats. The 



APPENDIX M. 219 

Speaker's chair was on the southern side, and in front of him was 
" the table," at which the Clerk only was also permitted to sit. A 
disposition seems to have been manifested on the part of some- 
body to encroach on this reservation, for the second of the 
Rules and Orders to be observed in the House of Representation 
in 1775 and in 1777 expressly declares that •• No Person shall sit 
at the Table, except the Speaker and ( lerk." 1 fear that the 
Speaker's Desk, so carefully preserved in the Cabinet of the Mas- 
sachusetts Historical Society, and so admirably copied in fac-simile 
for the other room, will have to be referred to a very late (if any) 
period of the legislative occupation of this building. 

tk The Boston seat" must be specially noticed here. From the 
beginning of legislation under the Province Charter Boston was 
entitled to four representatives, twice as many as any other town, 
and " the Boston seat" played an important part in everything 
that was done. It never failed to exercise a full share of influence 
in the House, which became more and more conspicuous as the 
era of the Revolution came on. 

It is very evident that "the Boston seat" was a front .seat; 
and I have reason to conclude that it was actually in the central 
division of benches on the north side of the chamber, directly in 
front of the Speaker. It was known and recognized from an early 
date, and " the gentlemen of the Boston seat," or " the members 
of the Boston seat," are frequently mentioned as being charged 
with special services and duties. 

It seems to have been the only monopoly of the kind, and I can 
recall but one instance of an attempt to invade it. On the 30th of 
Ma}% 1754, the question was put, whether any particular seat in 
the House should be assigned to the members of the towns of 
Plymouth and Salem. The presumptuous ambition of those towns, 
however, was checked at once by a vote in the negative. 

The earliest decoration of which I have any certain date in the 
Representatives' Chamber was a branch of candlesticks for its 
service and ornament, which was offered by Isaac Royal, of 
Charlestown, and accepted with the thanks of the House on the 
23d April. 1748, immediately after the determination to rebuild the 
House. A subsequent reference to it by John Adams not only 
assures us that Mr. Royal's liberal intention was carried out, but 



220 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

that it was a " brass branch of candlesticks," which was duly put 
in place, directly over the table of the Speaker and Clerk. 

In 1750 the ancient Arms of the Colony, carved with great care 
and pains by Moses Deshon, who also gilded and painted the 
same, were put up in the House, " over the door." The artist 
was the same who had executed for the town, a few years before, 
the Faneuil Arms, elegantly carved and gilt, to be fixed in Faueuil 
Hall. The consideration (for which he appears to have wailed 
more than two years), finally voted by the House, for the Colony 
Arms, was six pounds, thirteen shillings and fourpence. 



In 1766 a new feature was introduced in the Representatives' 

Chamlier, of remarkable importance. On the motion of James 
Otis, who, with Mr. Hancock and Mr. Adams as a committee, 
carried out the design, it was ordered that the debates of the 
House should be open; and that a Gallery be erected on the 
Westerly side of the Chamber for the accommodation of such 
Persons as should be inclined to attend the same. It was further 
ordered that no persons be admitted to a seat in the Gallery 
without applying to and being introduced by a Member of the 
House. The work was completed before the end of that political 
year, and the account of Thomas Crafts, Housewright, for erecting 
a Gallery and other work done byorderof the House was presented 
and allowed on the 17 March, 1796, amounting to £15.6.5. " The 
gallery of the house" is among the places of dissipation of time 
in 1768 mentioned in the diary of John Adams, ii., 209. It was 
afterwards enlarged with a chamber itself, as I shall presently 
show. 



In June, 1769, the General Court having refused to go on with 
the business of legislation, in view of the military occupation, and 
under the guns of the Main Guard, which were planted opposite 

the doors of the Court House. — as it were, at the points of bayo- 
nets and mouths of cannon, — the Governor took them at their 



V.PPENDIX M. 221 

word and adjourned the Court to meet the next day. June 16th, 
at Cambridge. It, was no softening* of this Mow to the House, but 
it was with pain that they were obliged to observe that the very 
night after this adjournment was made the cannon were removed 
from the Court House and put on board a vessel for Halifax. 

Among the resolves of the 29th June, read and corrected July 
7, 1769, etc., is the following: — 

•• Resolved, That whoever gave Order for Quartering even Com,' 
,. on Soldiers and Camp Women in the Court House in Boston, 
and in the Representatives' Chamber, where some of the principal 
Archives of the Government had been usually deposited, making 
a Barrack of the same, placing a Main Guard with cannon pointed 
near the said House and Sentinels at the Door, designed a high 
Insult and a triumphant Indication that the Military power was 
Master of the whole Legislative." 

In the petition to the king, 1769, it is said. •• Your Majesty's 
said Governor . . . ordered the very Room which is appro- 
priated for the Meeting of the Representatives of the General As- 
sembly, and was never used for any other Purpose, and where their 
Records are kept, to be employed as a Barracl for the Common 
Soldiers: And the Centinels were so posted as thai your Majesty's 
Council, and the Justices of the Courts of Common Lam. were 
daily interrupted and even challenged in their Proceeding to the 
Business of their several Departments." 

••January 9th, 177.'!. CJpon a motion. Ordered, That Mr. 
Speaker, Mr. Hancock, Mr. Bacon, and Major Hawley, be a Com- 
mittee to inspect the State of this Building and report what 
Repairs are necessary." 

This was soon after the opening of the Court upon its return 
from the Cambridge exile the fourth day of the second session 
of the General Court of 1772-73. Nearly four years had passed 
since the Legislature had been compelled to meet elsewhere than 
in their ••ancient and convenient seat." constantly and vainly 
struggling againsl their removal and exile as an arbitrary viola- 
tion of their ( 'barter rights. 

"February 2d. The Committee appointed to inspect the state 
of the Court House reported. 

" And thereupon it was Ordered, That the Speaker. Mr. Hancock, 



222 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

and Mr. Adams, with such as the Honorable Board shall join, be 
a Committee to see to the necessary repairs of the Court House, 
and to agree with a Painter to paint the Rooms in which the 
Council and House of Representatives sit in General Assembly." 

The Legislature sat until March 6, 1773, so that the repairs 
were probably made between that date and May, when the new 
Court assembled. 

"June 29th, 1773. Upon a motion, Ordered, That the Com- 
mittee appointed to see to the necessary repairs of the State 
House, provide cushions for the several seats in this room." 

It is a noteworthy fact that these repairs of 1773 which elicited 
this little demonstration of a desire on the part of the House for 
comfort (if not luxury) in sitting were so little enjoyed under the 
old regime, the Chamber being occupied afterwards by the 
Legislature of the Province only a few months, terminating with 
the first four days of its brief existence in 1774, — Ma}' 25th to 
28th, — when Gage adjourned the session to meet at Salem on the 
7th of June. 

On this occasion also the name of " State House " first appears, 
although it did not come immediately into common use. But it 
attracted the notice of Governor Hutchinson, who mentions it in 
his history as an illustration of the change in the style and lan- 
guage of the General Assembly, which he attributes to Samuel 
Adams, whose "attention to the Cause in which he was engaged 
would not suffer him to neglect even small circumstances, which 
could be made subservient to it." 

Immediately after the British evacuation of Boston measures 
were taken to cause such repairs to be made in the State House 
as were necessary to fit it for the reception of the General Court. 
A difficulty was apparent at once in providing accommodation for 
the Representatives, who now numbered more than 200. On the 
8th April a special committee was charged " to inquire and report 
whether the Chamber in the Town House in Boston, which had 
been used by the Courts for the County of Suffolk, could be pur- 
chased for the use of the House of Representatives, that the 
Partition between it and the Representatives' Room in said House 
may be taken down and the two Rooms made into one, and what 
would be the Expense thereof." Another committee, appointed to 



APPENDIX M. 223 

treat with a committee of the Justices of the County of Suffolk in 
the following June, reported an offer on the part of the County to 
sell their interest to the Colony for the sum of one thousand 
pounds. 

In the following October, however, the Justices, by formal order 
of Court, tendered to the Great and General Assembly of the State 
the Chamber in the Old Court House in which the Courts of Law 
formerly sat, upon condition that the State should allow such a 
sum therefor to the County as the Great and General Assembly 
should determine to be just and reasonable. 

A committee was forthwith despatched to view the premises and 
report what was proper to be done, and on the 18th October, 177C, 
"■Daniel Davis, Esq., brought down from the honorable board .Air. 
Commissary Smith's account, with the report of a Committee of 
both Houses thereon, viz. : — 

"The Committee appointed to view the Representatives' Cham- 
ber, and the County Chamber thereto adjoining, and to report 
what is necessary to be done in order to accommodate the House 
of Representatives, reported as follows, viz. : •• The Committee find 
that the present Chamber will accommodate 150 members, by 
shutting up the west door, and erecting a few se:its ; but as the 
present House of Representatives consists of more than 200 Mem- 
bers, your Committee think it best that the partition betwixt the 
Representatives' Chamber and the County Chamber should be re- 
moved within 11 feet of the west end of the Court House ; and that, 
the stairs go up in the north-west corner of said House ; and that 
the said 11 feet he improved for a lobby and entry-way ; and that 
over the same be a gallery, to accommodate spectators, agreeable 
to the plan herewith exhibited ; the whole of which your Committee 
think may be completed for about forty pounds. All which is 
humbly submitted. W\ Story, per order" 

"Read and accepted, and thereupon '■'•Ordered, That the said 
Committee make the alterations proposed, or such alterations : is 
they shall judge best. 

" Voted, That the Greal and Genera] Court he removed into 
Boston, as soon as they can with safety. 

"October i:i. Voted. That Mr Otis be of the Committee ap- 



224 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 



pointed to enlarge the Representatives' Chamber in the Court 
House iii Boston, in the room of Mr. Partridge, excused. 

•• November 9. Onmotion, Vcted, at the desire of the House, that 
when this Court shall be adjourned, it be adjourned to the Court 
House in Boston. 

•• Ordered, Thai a message goto the major part of the Council to 
desire them to adjourn this ( ouit to Tuesday next [Nov. 12th], at 
tt'n o'clock in the forenoon, then to meet at the Court House in 
Boston." 

The session ended on the same day, and the adjournment took 
place from Watertown to meet accordingly at the Court Hous< 
Toston. 




INDEX. 



INDEX. 



Acts, published, 42. 

Adams, 18, 67, 70, 71, 74, 75, 76, 84, 

85, 87, 88, 90, 94, 110,205, 219, 220, 

222. 
Addington, 24, 25, 30, 50, 1G8. 
Albans, Saint, 25. 
Amherst, 69. 
Aniory, Thomas C, 147. 
Andros, Sir E., 34, 35, 37, 38. 
Anne, Queen, portrait, 216. 
Apthorp, 150. 

Armoury, the, 53, 163, 165, 167. 168. 
Arms, Colony and Royal, 61, 64, 95, 

147, 215, 220. 
Artillery Co., Ancient and Honorable, 

26, 27, 41, 163, 165. 167. 
Assessors' Report, 104-106. 
Auekmooty, 49. 
Avery, 103. 

Bacon, 221. 

Badger, Commodore, 126. 

Badlam, 184. 

Bagnald, 53. 

Bagnall, 175. 

Baker, 185. 

Balcony or gallery, 35, 40, 4:;. 50, 53, 

57, 62, 64. 83, 90, 92, 94, 95, 151, 

is'.), 203, 204, 220. 
Barnes, 32. 

Barristers' Building, 191. 
Barry, 107. 
Batcheldor, 103. 
Beacon Hill, 23. 

Ural, 107. 
Belcher, 54. 
Bellingham, 34, 180, 186. 



Bellomont, .".4, 39, 40. 
Benjamin, 198. 
Bemad, 29, 30. 

Bernard, 67, 70, 71, 76, 78, 80, 189. 
Bilboa, 79. 
Bishop. 18. 
Bland, 217. 
Bollan, 59. 
Bond, 198. 

Boston, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, .".1. 35, 38, 
39, 11, 50, 66, 69, 70, 74. 76, 77. 80, 
92, 149. 206, 208, 209, 210. 211. 212. 
213, 214, 219. 
Boston Buildings , 25. 

Cadets. 56, 69, 70. 

Evening Post, 55, 56, 58, 59. 

Gazette, 9.",. 169. 

Magazine, 94. 

Test Boy, 62. 

Sights, 199. 
Bowdoin, 87, 90 '.'1. 150. 

square, 191 . 
Bowen, Picture of Boston, 109, 1 13, 
114, 115. 183, 184, 192, 193, 196, 197. 
Bowers, 88. 
Braddish, 181 
Bradstreet, 34, 35 
Braintree, 180, 186. 
Brattle. 45. 213. 
Brazer, 25. 

Brazer's Building. 23, 2 1. 25. 
Brenton, 16:;. 
Bridewell, 182 
Bridge, 108 

British Coffee House, SI. 
Bromfield, 17. 
Brookline, 179, 186. 



228 



INDEX. 



Brooks, 25, 194. 
Broughton, 28, 163. 
Brown, 47, 100. 
Bryant, 198. 
Bulfinch, 95. 
Bullard, 103. 
Bunker Hill, 56. 

battle of, 91. 
Burgess, 48. 
Burgoyne, 116. 
Burley, 106. 
Burnet, 62. 
Butler, Gov., 172. 
Buttolph, 54. 

Cambridge, 52, 79, 87, 88, 181, 208, 
212, 221. 
Gaol, 181. 
Canada, 92. 
Candlesticks, 219, 220. 
Canso, 55. 

Cape Breton Expedition, 211. 
Carleton, 92. 
Carr, 84. 

Castle, the, 56, 84, 86, 88, 92, 94. 
Cazneau, 103. 
Chalmers, 216, 217. 
Chantrey, statue by, 111. 
Chapman, 199. 
Chapman Hall, 191. 
Chardon, 150. 
Charlestown, 52. 
Checkley, 51. 
Chelsea, 25, 180, 186. 
Chester Co., 25. 
Chimneys, 54. 
Church, Christ, 154. 

Eirst, 19, 81, 173. 

Old Brick, 92. 

Old South, 22,25,68,84. 151. 
Cincinnati, 153. 
Circular Letter, 76. 

staircase, 153. 
Citizens' meeting, 92. 
City Council, 9. 17, 197, 198, 201, 206, 
209, 210. 
Government, inaugurated, 193, 
194. 



City Hall, 29, 113, 114, 115, 152, 153, 
154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 173, 178, 191 , 
192, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 200, 206. 

Clarke, 28, 163. 

Clear, 175. 

Clerk, town, 53. 

of the House, 75. 

Clinton, 116. 

Clock, town, 53. 

Closet, the, 48. 

Clough, Geo. A., 153, 156, 161. 

Cobb, 29. 

Codfish, the, 61. 

Cogan, 24. 

Cogin, 163. 

Colbron, 24. 

Cole, 29. 

Cole lane, 70. 

Colonists, rebellion of, 35. 

Columbian Insurance Co., 106. 

Commercial Insurance Co., 107. 

Commissioners, 27, 75. 

Committee on Public Buildings, 17. 157, 
158, 159. 

Common, the, 78, 209. 

Common Council, 18, 156, 157, 159. 
Hall, 197. 

Concord, 213. 

Conduit, 27, 33, 34, 163, 164, If,;,. Kit;. 
167, 168. 
description of. 33. 

Congress, 90. 

Congress square, 24. 

Connell, 159. 

Cook, 51, 17:,. 

Cooke, 61, 175, 176. 

Coolidge, 198. 

Copp's Hill, 23. 

Corbet, 79. 

Corbett, 25. 

Cornhill, 44, 109. 

Coth, 199. 

Cotton. 177. 

Council, the, 40, 41, 46, 47, 73, 75, 84. 

Council-chamber, 40, 43, 47, 48, 49, 50, 
56, 57, CI. 62, 64, 70, 78, 79, 83, 87, 
89,92,93, 94, 195, 204, 211. 216, 217. 

Councillors, 17, 48. 



INDEX. 



229 



County-chamber, 223. 
County Records and Papers, 4'.t. 
County Treasury, 176, 181, L85. 
Court-chamber, 49, 176, 214, 215. 
Court of Admiralty, 52, 79. 
Court, General, 27. 30, 36, 42, 57, 00- 
98, 179, 185, 208, 210, 211 
LML', 213, 214, 215, 220, 22l' 
222, 223. 
Inferior, 45, 40, 189. 
Municipal, 193. 
Police, 193. 
Superior, 45. 
Supreme, 37, 43, 189. 
Courts, County and State, 190. 
Federal, removed, 191. 
Court House, 31, 4."., 58, 60, 80, 99, 
100, 101, 102, in:;, 173, 
174, 183. 
bell, 176. 
burnt, 58. 
disposal of, 101). 101, 

102, 103. 
new, 178, 179, 184, 185, 
1S7, 188, 189, 190, 
191, 198, 20S, 2(i'.», 
211, 213, 214, 22(1, 
221, 22:;, 224. 
new. site proposed, 178, 
187. 
committee on. 1 78, 

179, 187, 188. 
corner-stone laid, 

191. 
cost, 188, 191. 
erected, 190. 
completed, 191. 
Court House, County. 184, 189, 195, 
198. 
old, 223, 224. 

torn down, 191. 
Leveretl St., 193. 
stone, 197. 

to be removed from 
Huston, 208, 2no, 212. 
213. 
Court Records, 173, 174. 175, 170. 177. 
17.s. 179, 185, ISO. 



Court Pvoom, 17::. 17 1. 203, 204. 

( 'ourt square, 19:;, 198. 

Crafts, 02, 220. 

Crean, 91. 

Cunningham, 150. 

Cushing, '.Mi, 150, 205. 

( Justom House, 82. 



Daily exchange, the, 32. 
I (alrymple, 78, 8 1, 86. 
Darnhall, 2,".. 
Davis, 112. 223. 
Dawes, 2.3. 90. 
Dean, 107. 
Debtors-Jail, 183. 
Declaration of Independence, 92. 
Dedham, 180, 180. 
Deputies, 3,7, 48, 7.1 . 52. 
Deshon, 01, 151, 220. 
Doane, 170. 

Duck square, 44, 81, 82, 150. 
Dorchester, 179, 186. 
neck, 92. 
Dowse, 176, 177. 
Dudley, 34. 42, 50. 51, 54, 216. 
Dummer, 50, 5 I. 
Dunton, 31. 

East ( 'liamber, 38, 15. 

Hall, 17. 
Eddy, 157, 159. 
Edwards, 100. 
Edwin, 25. 

Ellis, Rev. Rufus, 19. 
Elsham, 25. 
Endicott, 34. 
Engine, tire, 61. 
England, 30. 3.5, 55, 70. 91. 
Eustis, loo, lol. 
Evacuation of Boston, '.'2. 
Everett, 33, 103, 112. 
Exchange, the, 2 1. 17. 

merchants', 32, 1 14, 



Faneuil, 05. 150. 

arms of. 220. 



230 



INDEX. 



Faneuil Hall, 13, 22, 60, 65, 66, 67, 
68, 69, 77, 78, 83, 92, 99 
110, 149, 150, 151, 174, 197, 
208, 220. 

Hall Market, 150. 

portrait of, 150. 
Fayerweather, 176. 
Fletcher, 168. 
Files of papers, 57, 175. 
Fires, 34, 43, 44, 46, 49, 57, 58, 59, 

107, 111, 115, 151, 169, 216, 218. 
First Church, 19, 81. 
Fitch, 51. 
Flagg, 47, 52. 
Flood, 106. 
Floyd, 106, 107. 
Fort Hill, 23, 35, 73,92, 94, 209. 
Franquelin, map of Boston, 33. 
Freemasons, 109, 110. 
French troops welcomed, 94. 
Frost, 157, 159. 
Funerals, public, 50, 69. 

Gage, 69, 78, 90, 91, 116, 222. 
Gallery, the, 40, 62, 76, 88, 96, 163, 
164, 168, 189, 203, 204, 217, 220, 223. 
Gaol, county, 176, 180, 183. 
inspected, 180. 
repaired, 180. 
new, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 
186. 

committee tin, 178, 179. 

burnt, 182. 

repaired, 183. 

stone, 180, 183, 187. 
Garden court, 7:!. 
Gardner, 103. 
Garrison, William L., 119. 
George, 37. 
Gibbs, 31. 

Gifts by the State, 171, 172. 
Gilbert, 107. 

Goelet, Capt. Francis, 60, 61. 
Goldthwait, 175, 189. 
Gooch, 54. 
Gookin, 42. 

Governor, messages from, 52, 209. 
Grammar-school inspectors, 49. 



Granary, the, 27, 163, 164, 167, 168, 
Gray's ropewalk, 81. 
Great seal, the, 147. 
Green, the, 25. 

chamber, the, 53. 
Green, Samuel A., address by, 121. 
Greenleafe, 180. 
Greenwood, 107, 108. 
Gregg, 159. 

Gridley, Col. Richard, 56. 
Gunhouse, 183. 

Hale's Survey of Boston, 1 15. 

Half-square court, 25. 

Halifax, 76, 79, 221. 

Hancock, 18, 87, 88, 90, 94, 220, 221. 

House, 154. 
Harrington, 106. 
Hart, 157. 

Harvard College, 27. 
Haversham, 25. 
Hawley, 87, 221. 
Healths, drinking of, 42. 
Heath, 175. 
Henderson, 94. 
Henshaw, 179, 185. 
Herbert Collidge, 167, 168. 
Hersey, Aid. Charles II., address by, 

IS. 
Hersey, 159. 
Herts Co., 25. 
Hill, 103, 189. 
Hiller, 51. 
Hilton, 159. 
Hingham, 180, 186. 
Hinkly, 36. 
Hobart, 107. 
Holmes, 111. 
Hooper, 79. 
Houchin, 28, 29. 
House, the, 16, 51, 52, 71. 76, 87, 209, 

210, 212, 213, 214, 220, 221, 

222, 22 -1 
of Correction, 183 
of Representatives, 49, 174, 

185, 208, 209, 210,. 211, 214, 

222 22.".. 
Howe, 91, 116, 150. 



INDEX. 



231 



Bubbard, 174. 

Hull, 29, 168, 180, 186. 

Hunt, 213. 

Hutchinson, 28, 29, 35, 44, 45, 51, 68, 
79, 80, 82, 83, 88, 1 16, 
150, 176, 178, 179. 181, 
L82, 187, 188, 208, 210, 
222. 
house burnt. 7:!. 



1 ndependence, birth of. 72 

-Jail, 17;;, 177. 178, 1st. l'.U. 
Leverett street, is.'!. 
stone, new, described, is;;. 

taken down, 183. 

prisoners removed from, 

ISO. 

old, 190. 
Jeffries, 149. 
Johnson, 24. 

Hall, 192. 
Josselyn, 31. 
Joy, 29, 30. 
Joy's Building, 2.">. 

Keayne, Capt. Robert, 24, 26, 27. 28, 
2:», 31,33,34, 163, 168, 218. 
founds the town-bouse, 31. 
signature, 28. 

wiil, 162 Hi;), 164, 165, ICC. 
167, 168. 
Kidd, ('apt. William, tried. 40, 4 1. 
Kilby, 59. 
King's arras, 61, 147, 148, 189, 21."., Marblehead, 79. 



Legislature, 26, 27, 31, 12, 11, 45, 55, 
57, 62, 71. 75, 77. 78, 
87, 88, 90, 208, 212, 221, 
222. 

at ( lambridge, 79, 87, B8. 

at Salem, 90. 

at Watertown, 91 . 93. 

returned to Boston, 93, 94, 
:»7. 

Leverett. 21. 34. 

Wharf, 37. 

Lewis, 150. 

Lexington, battle of, 91. 

Liberty square, 23. 

ti ■■■. 7.".. 
Library, town. 27, :!:;, 163, 164, 167, 

lbs. 
Lidget, ;'.7. 

Limestone found, 40. 
Lincoln, 111. 

(o., 25. 
Lion and Unicorn, 64, 1 15, lie. 1 17, 

14s. 
Lloyd, 112. 
Lobby. 4.".. 49, 201. 
London, 24. .">'.». 
Lon-. Gov. John 1)., 12b. 
Long Wharf, 56, 90. 
Louisburg, 56, 69. 

capture of. 50, 55. 
Lowell, 112. 
Lynde, ;'>7, 215. 

Mackay, 78. 

Magazine, the public, 165. 

Maguire, 159. 



2lb. 
Chapel, 69, 17.4. 
Mueller, 217. 

Knowles, Commodore, •")<>, 7.7. 
Kulm, 103. 



Lake, 31. 

Land Lank. 213. 

Lawrence. 69. 

Lechford, account by, 2b. 



Market, the, .".2. 166. 

House, 163, 166, 167, 168. 

place, 2;;. 27, lb;;, 164, 165, 
167. 
Marshall, 2b, 217. 
Marston, 1 1. 
Masonic Temple, 191. 
Massachusetts Fire Insurance Co., 

98. 
Massachusetts Magazine, 12. lb. 97. 
McLane, l 



232 



INDEX. 



Mechanics' Hall, 199. 
Medfield, 180, 186. 
Medway, 180, 186. 

Meeting-house, the, 24, 25, 26, 163, 
164, 216. 

Colman's, 46. 

First, 23, 24, 44. 

old, 42. 44, 49, 53. 

south, 46. 
Memorial Halls, 158. 
Merchant's Row, 23. 
Messenger, 106, 107. 
Messinger, 108. 
Middle Chamber, 45. 
Middlesex, 52, 70. 
Midgley, 199. 
Miller, 53, 175. 
Milton, 179, 186. 
Minot, 71, 100. 
Model of Town House, 28. 
Molineaux, William, 82. 
Montague, 217. 
Moore, George H., notes by, 174, 189, 

201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 208. 
Morrison, 157. 
Morse, 44. 
Munich, 199. 
Municipal Court House, 183. 

Room, 191. 

Nantasket, 77, 92. 

Neal, Daniel, description by, 46. 

Needham, 170, 186. 

Netmaker, 47. 

Newbury, 40. 

Newburyport, 154. 

New York. 70, 74, 78. 

Nicholson, 47, 216. 

Northern!, 52. 

Norton, 168. 

Noyes, 181. 

Oakes, 51. 
O'Brien, 157. 

Old Burial Place, the, 50. 

Court House, 223. 

South Church, 22, 25, 68, 84, 151. 
Oliver, 73, 116, 150. 



Oliver Dock, 73. 

Otis, 51, 70, 71, 72, 74, 80, 116, 189, 

205, 220, 223. 
Otis, Harrison Gray, adilress by, 117 
Otis, James, address by, 151. 
Overing, 60. 
Overseers of Harvard College, 4'.). 

Paddy, 29. 
Page, 34. 
Paige, 42, 168. 
Paine, 90. 

Painter's bill in 1773, 64, 170, 171. 
Panton, 79. 

Parker, 24, 106, 107, 163, 168, 174. 
Park man House, 191. 
Partridge, 224. 
Payne, 45, 177. 
Peirce, 172. 

Pemberton, Thomas, description by, 
97, 183, 190. 
square, 191. 
Penn, 24. 

Pepperell, 50, 55, 56. 
Phenix, 49. 
Philadelphia, 13. 
Phillips, 24, 25, 48, 194. 
Phipps, 45. 
Phips, Sir William, 34, 38, 39. 

Dame Mary, 39. 
Pierce, 40. 
Pillars, 32, 53. 
Pillory, the, 164. 
Plymouth, 219. 
Point Alderton, 92. 
Polyanthus, The, 192. 
Population of Boston, 26, 34, 35, 38, 

46, 54. 
Port Bill, the Boston, 90. 
Portraits mentioned, 18, 62, 65, 71, 72, 

85, 91, 216, 217, 218. 
Portsmouth, 154. 
Post office, 25, 114, 191. 
Pownall, Gov. Thomas, 66, 67, 71. 
Pratt, Chief Justice, 70. 
Prayers, public, 47. 
Press-gang, trial of, 79. 
Preston, ("apt., trial of. 82, 83,87. 



INDEX. 



233 



Preston, 198, 202. 

Prison lot, the, 177. 

Probate building, 176, 184, 189. 

Proclamation, 41, 51, 94. 

Prorogation, 42. 

Province arms, 94, ] is. 

Charter, 219. 

House. 45, 91, 211. 
Provincial Congress, 90. 
Prytaneum Bostoniense. 201, 208. 
Public Library, First, 218. 
Pudding Lane. 24. 25. 
Pulsifer, 59. 
Pynchon, 41. 

Quaker's ineeting-liou.se, 175. 

Quebec, -PI, 69. 

Queen's arms, 216, 21 7. 

Que'ch, Capt. John, 42. 

< ^n i cy, IS, IS, 71, 87, 181, 189, 195, 

205. 
Quincy, Josiah, jr., 87. 
Quincy Market, 23. 

Rand, 10G r . 

Randolph, 37. 

Ratcliffe, 37. 

Rawson, 168. 

Rea, 107. 

Reed, 61. 

Registry of Deeds, 15. 

Representatives Chamber, 214. 218, 

21'.). 220, 22], 223, 

221. 
Hall, 43, 51, 62, 63, 

95, 98, 173, 174, 

I'd.",. 
Room, 78, 210. 222. 
Revolution of 1(588, 35. 
Richardson, si. 
Roath, 198. 

Rogers, Isaiah, 12, 107. 112. 15:;. 205. 
Roxbury, 62, 17!), 186, 209, 216. 
Royal, 215,211). 

Royal arms, 04. 65, 115, 14)1. 117. 
148, 215. 
Exchange Tavern, 60. 
Royal! House, Medford, 154. 



Ruddock, 178, L79, 181. 
Ruggles, 14!). 
Russell, 171. 213. 

Salem, 90, 154, 21'.). 222. 

Salmon, 12, I ID. 115. 

Savage, 28, 51. 

Savell, 5 1, 65. 

Scut. 24. 

Scottow, l".t. 

Seal, the Colony, 146. 

Seat, Boston, 21'.). 

Seaver, 103. 

Selectmen, meeting of. 53. 

notes of, 60, 61, (It;. 
Selfridge, 107. 
Senate Chamber, 63. 
Sewall, Samuel, extracts from diary 

of. 3d. .",7. 38, 39, 10, 11. 12, I:;. 16, 

17, is, 4!), 50, 51. 52. 
Shattuck, 34. 
Shaw, description by, ins, is:;, 190, 

192. 
Sherman. 26. 

Shirley. 50, 5 1. 55, :,;. 62, 66, ''.7. 2ns. 
Shirley House, 154. 
Shop removed, 18(1, 187. 
Shops. 24. 31, 32, 54, 107. 
Short. 99. 
Shrimpton, 31, 37. 
Shropshire, 69. 
Shute, 5i). 54. 
Siilers, 103. 107. 
Siege of Boston. 91. 
Smith. 36, 100, 223. 
Snow, 11, 13, is:;. 192, 195. 
Snyder, Christopher, killed, si. 
Speaker, 51. 52. 
Staircase, 203, 20 1. 
Stairway, central. 201 . 
circular. 62. 
Stamp Act riots. 7.".. 75. 
State-street riots, si . si'. 
State ( institution adopted, 94. 
State House, old, engravings of. 1 o, 
11. 1l>. 13. 
founded, 23. 
model, 28. 



234 



INDEX. 



State House, description of the first, 28, 

2!). 
paid for, ."0. 
tenants, 31, 32, 106, 107, 

108, 109. 
head-quarters against An- 

dros, 35. 
used by Legislature, 37, 

94. 
council-chamber in, 38. 
burnt in 1711, 44. 
rebuilt, 45, 133, 134, 135, 

136, 137, 138. 
public sales at, forbidden, 

52. 
repaired, 54. 
riot against press-gangs, 

57. 
burnt in 1747, 58, 59, 60. 
rebuilt, 139, 140, 141, 142, 

143, 144, 145. 
described in 1750, by 

Goelet, 61. 
town offices in Faneuil 

Hall, 60. 
described in 1791, 63. 
painter's bill, 1773, 64. 
described by John Adams, 

70, 71. 
galleries in, 76. 
troops lodged in, 78. 
injured by British troops, 

91. 
used by the State, 94. 
peace proclaimed at, 91. 
Hancock installed at. 9 I. 
Washington received at, 

95. 
described in 1794, by 

Pemberton, 97. 
corner-stone laid, 1795. 

97. 
occupied by the legisla- 
ture, 1798, 97. 
report on disposal, 100, 

101. 
title disputed. 100. 
title settled, 102. 



State House, sold to the town, 102, 103, 
leased, 104, 105, 106. 
slight fire in 1816, 107. 
described in 1817, His. 
slight fire in 1823", 111. 
described in 1829, 109. 
slight fire in 1832, 115. 
used for city purposes, 

1830, 111. 
restoration of, 1830. 112. 
called " City Hall" de- 
scribed, 113. 
used for business pur- 
poses, 116. 
restoration of, 1881, 116. 
described in 1881, 151', 

153, 154, 155, 156. 
reconstruction and resto- 
ration of, 152, 153, 154, 
155, 156, 157,' 158, 159. 
original plans found, 153. 
cost of refitting ami re- 
constructing, 159, 160, 
161. 
repaired, 222, 223. 
Stoddard, 28. 
Stone, 175, 176. 
Story, 178, 223. 

Stougbton, 34, 37, 39, 40, 179, 186. 
Stoughtonham District, 186. 
Street, Beacon, 200. 
Bedford, 199. 
Brattle, 46. 
Charles, 183 
Chauncey, 199. 
Court, 23, 99, 108, 178, 183, 

190, 193. 
Devonshire, 9, 24, 25. 
Essex, 73. 
Exchange, 60, 82. 
Fish, 107. 
Fleet, 73, 92. 
Franklin, 23. 
Kilby, 23. 
King, 24, 25, 44, 53, 57, 61, 73, 

92, 93, 97. 
Leverett, 183, 191. 
Milk, 91. 



INDEX. 



23o 



Street, Queen, 93, 178, 181, 183, 187 
L88. 
School, 44, lis. 190, 198. 
State, 23, 24, 25, 34, 44, 60, 64, 

81, 82, 90. 
Thatcher, 183. 
Tremont, 191. 
Washington, 23, 24, 44, 7:;. 

10!). 
Water, 25. 
Subscribers to first Town House. 131, 

132, L33. 
Sullivan, 112, 189. 
Sumner, 94, 195. 

Table, the Council, 89. 
Tailer, 47. 50, 54. 
Taylor, 31, 50. 
Tea-Party, Boston, 89. 
Tenants, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110. 
Thanksgiving Day, 1776, 94. 
Thaxter, 45. 
Thompson, 24, 25. 
Thompson Family. 25. 
Tileston, 174. 
Tillinghast, 103. 
Ting, 168. 
Titcomb, 103. 
Topliff's Newsroom, 114. 
Town Armoury, 53. 
Dock, 2:;. 
Hall, 65, 66. 

House (See, also, State House), 
24, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 
33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 
40, 41, 42, 44, 46, 47, 
50, 52, 53, 65, 69, 81, 
83, 87, 167, 168, 189. 
first, 30, 129. 130, 131, 

132, 133, 218. 
described in 1658, !•:•. 
bell, 32. 
note on, 32. 
leas.,1. 111, 32, 54. 
burnt in 1711, 4 1. 
rebuilt. 133, 134, 135,136, 

137, 138. 
division of charges, 15. 



Tov n House, clock, '<:'>. 

repaired, 5:;. 51. 
burnt in 17 17, 57. 
rebuilt, 139, 1 In. l 11,142. 

143, 111. 1 15. 
described in ! 750, 61. 
courts transferred, 99. 
courts lieM in. 17.'!. 
court room. 174. 
Library, .".:;, 218. 
meetings, 28, 29. II'. I:;. 46, 68, 

77. 78, 83, 84, 89, 99, Ion. 
Records, .".1. 33, 52. 
Townsenil, 45, 5 1. 
Treat, 5:1. 
Tremont Place, 191. 

Temple, 191. 
Trials, 49. 

special, 191. 
Triumphal Arch, 95. 
Troops removed, 79. si;. 
Trusdall, 164. 
Tudor, 179, 181, 182, 189. 
Tyng, 168. 

United States courts, 191. 

court house, P.lf). 
Usher, 31, 41. 

Vardy, 60. 

Views, engraved, notice of, 10, 11, 12, 

13, 98. 
Virginia, 39. 
Voters, 26, 29, 39, 42, 43, 88. 

Waldo, Gen. Samuel, 511, 150. 

Walpole, 180, 186. 

Ward, 195. 

Ward Room, 183. 

Warren, 50, :>:>. 56, 111'. 110, 211. 

Hall, 212. 
Washburn, William, 112. 
Washington, George, 95. 

Statue of. 111. 
Waters, loo. 
Watertown, Legislature at. 91. 21:'.. 

224. 
Watkins. 39. 



236 



INDEX. 



Watts, 51, 17."), 178, 170, 180, 181. 

Webb, 163. 

Welles, 17:., 17s, 179, 180, 181. 

Wendell, (51, 150. 

Wentworth, 7)4. 

West, 36. 

West ( lhamber, 45. 
Hull, is. 

Weymouth, 180, 18G. 

Whitmore, Gen. Edward, 69. 

Whitmore, William 11., 152, 153, 17.7. 

159, 207. 

address by, 22. 

notes, 201, 202, 

203, 204,205, 

20G, 207. 



Wightman, 28. 

Wilder, Marshall P., address by, 124. 

Willardj Secretary, letter of, 59. 

Willard, GO, 212. 

Williams, 54, 103, 164. 

Williams court, 44. 

Willson, 1G8. 

Wilson, 24. 

Winslow, 17G. 177, 181, 182. 

Winthrop, 25, 26, 35, 50, 150. 

Witchcraft, trials, 39. 

Wolfe, G9. 

W T oolley, Aid. William, 17, 18, 152, 

157, 159. 
Wrentham, 179, 186. 
Writs of Assistance, 70, 72, 76. 



